The Living Walls in the Amazon Spheres in Seattle genuinely offer a tropical forest experience in the midst of a Pacific Northwest tech hub.

It took me over a year to meet the plant genius behind it all, and was well worth the wait. In 2024 I began a query, seeking out Kara Hurst, Amazon’s Chief Sustainability Officer, to see if she’d like to host an exhibit or event there at the time of COP30 in Brazil. As it turned out, my visit to the Spheres was on the last day of the COP, and was exactly what my spirits needed.

There I was welcomed by Ben Eiben for the most fulfilling plant day I’ve had since last leaving the rainforests of Brazil in 2018. I asked him how this world class botanical experience came to life in the midst of the tech hub, and was amazed to learn that…

“There are over 250 species of epiphytic plants (those that grow on tree branches rather than in soil in nature) on the living walls. Behind the plants is a mesh textile made out of microfiber that wicks water easily, enabling them to have a very simple irrigation system.“

“At the bottom of each is a gutter that captures any effluent the plants don’t absorb, returning it to a reservoir in the parking garage. There the collected water is analyzed for nutrient and PH composition, with corrections made to bring balance back to the system before being pumped back to the top of the grid.“

The Spheres has a coffee bar for employees to enjoy while sitting amidst the greenery with laptops or on breaks, with a free banana stand outside. It’s open to guests of employees and to the general public by booking well in advance.

But personally, I’m going to wait for another guided tour by the grounded visionary behind these Living Walls of Seattle.