The green grass of home

They're not available in Hong Kong and cannot be shipped here, but these grass 'tiles' may one day prove popular enough to be sold outside Japan, according to their developer, Toyota Roof Gardens, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor. The 50cm-square TM9 turf tiles are apparently as easy to lay as carpet and need little care and attention: the slow-growing Korean velvet grass requires a trim only once a year. And because the mats are just 5cm thick, hence fairly light, rooftops don't have to be upgraded to bear their weight. Additionally, tubes beneath the grass provide an even supply of water. The tiles, created to combat rising urban temperatures, are sold in Japan for US$43 a tile.