Environmental art doesn't necessarily have to be restricted to a pile of rocks stacked together by Andy Goldsworthy -- it can also take the form of wearable, fashionable, and socially engaged garments too. Made with fruits, weeds, flowers, and leaves, 'Weedrobes' is the delightful series of meticulously detailed, perishable gowns, coats, and suits by Canadian environmental artist Nicole Dextras. Striking a careful balance between style and commentary, the message behind Weedrobes is aimed squarely at the not-always-so-sustainable practices of the fashion industry, while also redefining the perceived immortality of haute couture. Dextras' garments begin life as plants harvested from a variety of places, ranging from areas affected by invasive species to specimens from Dextras' own garden. After constructing her pieces, Dextras photographs each Weedrobe with a model, and they are sent out to "engage the public" by interacting with passerby. Afterwards, each garment is left to be 'reclaimed' and to decompose naturally. Dextras' extensive array of natural materials is a veritable gardener's delight, including yucca leaves, wild red rose, camellia, willow, hydrangeas, crab apples, kale, rose hips, laurels, and thorns to pierce components together. She sometimes uses invasive species like Japanese knotweed to call into question our attitudes toward certain species. Dextras also weaves leaves together to create her clothing, allowing the shape of the plants to inform the specific pattern. And no flowery outfit is complete without a pair of leafy shoes, fit for the human version of faerie folk. Though it may seem to be a little too fun to be serious, Weedrobes is not just some off-the-cuff project. Dextras' view on fashion is from the inside, with a deep personal history with fashion beginning from her childhood memories of her mother's clothing store and Dextras' own employment in non-union sweatshop, where she witnessed firsthand the poor working conditions and the chemicals used in the process. Ultimately, the point of these ephemeral robes is to get people to see past the glamorous exterior and at the larger life cycles behind the fashion industry. According to Dextras:

The Weedrobes philosophy is based on being a free thinker, creating one's own sense of style while also raising awareness about the impact of industry on our eco-system. Our most effective tool for change is for consumers to demand more equitable products. It may be impractical to wear clothing made with leaves, but our future depends on the creation of garments made from sustainable resources.

Like this? Follow Kimberley on Twitter or subscribe via RSS. More Environmental Art:

• Captivating Portraits of Clothing Made From Trash
• 8 Amazing Environmental Artworks (Slideshow)
• Salvation Army Donations Transformed Into Runway-Worthy Fashion in Argentina (Slideshow)
• 10 Celebrities Wearing Hot (and Weird) Green Fashion on the Red Carpet

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You've probably heard of the "latte factor" – by spending $2.50 on coffee at a cafe every day, you're wasting money that could have added up to millions. If you subscribe to this theory, you try making coffee at home. But an ordinary cup of joe doesn't always satisfy.

Do you have to spend thousands on a fancy espresso machine or buy the most expensive coffee beans? That would defeat idea of saving money by brewing coffee at home.

We looked for expert advice on how to make great coffee and discovered that freshness is more important than fancy equipment or ingredients.

Consumer Reports finds that most brands of automatic-drip coffeemakers will brew a decent cup of coffee. The main differences are extra features such as timers, thermal carafes, and such. Choose the coffeemaker that fits your price range and kitchen style.

Many coffee aficionados prefer manual-pour coffeemakers because they draw out more complex flavors from the coffee grinds. On Epicurious.com, champion barista Mike Phillips explains how to use the French press, CafeSolo, Chemex, and siphon (or vacuum) coffeemakers.

But no matter what kind of mechanism you use, the keys to brewing a great cup of coffee are actually quite simple. According to Ken Davids, editor of Coffee Review, it boils down to these steps:

1. Buy top quality coffee.
2. Use clean, odor-free, but not distilled water.
3. Keep coffee hot after brewing in a thermal carafe.

If you have good coffee beans, clean water, and keep the coffee hot, you'll be on your way to beating the daily grind of paying $2.50 per cup.

To get quality coffee, start by avoiding any of the canned grounds. Says Davids: "American canned supermarket coffees consist mainly of the lowest quality robusta beans that have been steamed to neutralize the foul flavors created by drying the coffee fruit in decaying, putrid piles. So they come across as neutral, empty tasting brown water." A better bet is whole beans from a company like Green Mountain Coffee, Peet's Coffee and Tea, or even Starbucks (16 ounces of beans costs $10.95 at a Startbucks store and lasts a lot longer than that one $2.50 latte!).

If you don't like the taste of your tap water, get a filter for your house, faucet, or pitcher. The Environmental Protection Agency regularly tests U.S. tap water for safety, so there's no real need to use bottled water. But if local plumbing or minerals affect the flavor, a filter is the best bet for general drinking and especially for coffee brewing.

Food Network’s Alton Brown has a handy video showing how to get the most out of an automatic-drip coffeemaker. You’ll want to add 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds and 6 ounces of water for each cup of coffee desired, regardless of what the machine might instruct. After all, it’s only a machine.

Finally, make sure to take the coffee pot off the heating element when it's finished brewing, if you're using an automatic-drip coffeemaker. When the pot sits on the heat, the coffee will get burnt. To keep it warm, transfer the coffee into a thermal carafe. This simple step makes sure that the last cup out of the pot tastes as good as the first one. Some models of coffeemakers brew directly into a thermal carafe – if you’re upgrading, this is something to consider.

And if you want a touch of that latte experience without an espresso machine, just heat up some milk and whip it with a battery-powered milk frother. You'll only have to use it for a few weeks to recoup the investment versus those individual lattes.

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As I wrote about last year, the American Public Gardening Association (APGA) created National Public Gardens Day as a “national day of celebration to raise awareness of America’s public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education in communities nationwide.”

Now in its third year, National Public Gardens Day is Friday, May 6, 2011. APGA timed National Public Gardens Day to coincide with Mother’s Day weekend, which they call the “unofficial” start of spring and a time when the environment is top of mind for most consumers.

The whole purpose of a public garden is to provide the knowledge and love of plants to a community, something that every gardener needs.

Public gardens are a great source of information. For example, many of them host or house local garden clubs and societies. These groups provide a wealth of information on specific plants and flowers, ranging from African violets to roses.

There are also countless other educational opportunities at a public garden. There are classes, workshops, lectures, and book talks with both local and nationally known gardening experts, often offered free or included in the price of garden admission.

And, if you are still searching for that perfect Mother’s Day gift, why not give the gardener in your life a free admission to her local public garden?

How? Better Homes and Gardens Magazine has partnered with the APGA to offer a free admission pass good for two free adult admissions to public gardens participating in National Public Gardens Day. You can get your free pass at the Better Homes and Garden web page.

You might also want to consider giving her a membership to her local garden. Memberships pay for special programs, classes, and support local garden clubs and horticultural societies, which can all serve to inspire her the entire year, not just on Mother’s Day.

The APGA has over 500 garden members listed on its site, in all 50 states and eight other countries. They are not all botanic gardens and arboretums. There are also historical sites or homes, local golf courses, “entertainment” gardens such as theme and water park gardens, college and university gardens, and museum gardens.

Check out the site to find one near you to see what events are scheduled for Public Gardens Day and throughout Mother’s Day weekend.

More healthy and green articles from Care2:

• What Gift for You?
• 25 Great, Consumer-Less Gift Ideas
• The No-Fail Gift