Terrariums put forest, desert on office desk

You’re the woodsy type. You’ve never seen a mosslined trail you didn’t long to take. Your favorite ex-boyfriend was an Eagle Scout. And you identified deeply with Red Riding Hood’s need to traipse through the dark woods, in spite of (because of?) wolves. Yet, in your dayto-day existence, you log a lot more time at your desk than in the forest.

Lucky for you, the forest-loving types at South Australia’s Botanica Boutique came up with Sanctuary S. It’s a tiny terrarium, with a twist. Because of a delicate glass dimple in the dome, condensation is channeled back onto the plant below, allowing you to grow that most forest-y of all plants: moss.

The Sanctuary S has a lot of other cool features, like an insert to hold your moss and keep the terrarium nice and tidy, and a selection of chic bases that includes marble and concrete. But what you really need to know is that it’s a sleek, modern cup full of forest to keep right on your desk or kitchen counter.

Botanica Boutique designers were inspired by the rainforest and the lushness of South Australia’s natural environment to create the terrarium’s signature dimple, which keeps things constantly moist and misty. And they’ve expanded the line to include a medium-size Sanctuary, with options to choose the Rainforest dome; a Temperate open-top version that welcomes plants that need less moisture; or Arid, with no dome, which suits succulents and cacti just fine. There’s also a bubble-shaped Biodome terrarium, with a dome that magnifies your tiny terrarium plants, in case your lust for nature takes a voyeuristic turn. And with prices that start at $35.50 for the S model, owning a little chunk of the woods doesn’t seem like a fairy tale.

TNS/Styling Marsha Golemac of Botanica Boutique/JENAH PIWANSKI Moss gardens from Australian company Botanica Boutique mimic the rainforest.