# CLUE Vertical Garden Weather Visualizer
## Overview
https://youtu.be/wkcuREo1nRk
The CLUE microcontroller is a powerful little board. In this project, we've used it to power a NeoPixel strip installed in a frame around a vertical moss garden.
The CLUE does a great job of lighting the plants artfully, and we've taken it a step further by incorporating data from the CLUE's onboard weather sensors. This vertical garden functions as a barometer or thermometer, showing colors based on the current and recent air pressure or temperature. Five different light zones show you at a glance whether the air pressure is rising or falling, turning the art piece into a functional barometer.
This lovely vertical moss garden predicts the weather. It's art with a superpower! That's pretty neat.
We used fresh moss from the backyard, preserved in glycerine and dyed to maintain its vibrant green color. That means there's no watering needed -- the moss will stay fresh and soft indefinitely on its own.
We installed the moss into a pre-existing frame cut down from an old, broken shoji screen we found in the basement. Then we added a frame for the lights made from corner trim from the hardware store.
The electronics build is fairly simple, with no soldering required. This is not really a beginner project, but you don't have to be an electronics wizard to hook everything up. The trickiest part for me was the woodworking -- building a frame from corner trim is harder than it looks!
The rest of the magic happens with CircuitPython code and your imagination. Customize the type of data shown: we've included code to visualize temperature or air pressure, and it wouldn't be too hard to add your own code that would visualize humidity, ambient light, sound or other data collected by the CLUE.
You can also customize colors, data thresholds, and pixel mapping (how the colors are laid out) in the CircuitPython code, so it's fun to use this guide as a starting point to create something unique and beautiful.
## Parts
### Adafruit CLUE - nRF52840 Express with Bluetooth® LE
[Adafruit CLUE - nRF52840 Express with Bluetooth® LE](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4500)
Do you feel like you just don't have a CLUE? Well, we can help with that - get a CLUE here at Adafruit by picking up this sensor-packed development board. We wanted to build some projects that have a small screen and a lot of sensors. To make it compatible with existing projects, we made...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4500)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4500/guides)
### Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 30 LED
[Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 30 LED](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1376)
You thought it couldn't get better than [our world-famous 32-LED-per-meter Digital LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/306) but we will prove you wrong! These NeoPixel strips have 30 digitally-addressable pixel LEDs per meter and are very affordable and are only 12.5 mm...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1376)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1376/guides)
### 5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed
[5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276)
This is an FCC/CE certified and UL listed power supply. Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 2000mA. 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US 2-prong" style so you may need a plug adapter, but you can pick one...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/276/guides)
### JST PH 2-Pin Cable - Female Connector 100mm
[JST PH 2-Pin Cable - Female Connector 100mm](https://www.adafruit.com/product/261)
Red and black tinned wires with a 2-pin JST PH connector on the end. 4" / 100mm long. Matches up nicely with our Lipoly chargers!
[We have the socket 'mating' version of this cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3814) over here,
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/261)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/261/guides)
### Female DC Power adapter - 2.1mm jack to screw terminal block
[Female DC Power adapter - 2.1mm jack to screw terminal block](https://www.adafruit.com/product/368)
If you need to connect a DC power wall wart to a board that doesn't have a DC jack - this adapter will come in very handy! There is a 2.1mm DC jack on one end, and a screw terminal block on the other. The terminals are labeled with positive/negative assuming a positive-tip configuration...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/368)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/368/guides)
### Part: Bolt-On Kit
quantity: 1
Bolts to attach LEDs to the CLUE with no soldering
[Bolt-On Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4103)
### Part: Wire
quantity: 3
Silicone Stranded Wire in red, black, and white
[Wire](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1877)
### Part: UV Pigment
quantity: 2
Fluorescent Pigment in Yellow & Green
[UV Pigment](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4126)
## Moss Prep & Preservation
- 1 qt of glycerine
- Warm water dyes in your favorite greens
- White vinegar
- Fluorescent pigments in [yellow](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4126) and [green](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4125)
## Frame Materials
- Picture frame or screen with backing
- 2" corner trim
- Stain or paint as desired
- [Silicone Adhesive](https://www.amazon.com/Devcon-12045-Premium-Silicone-Adhesive/dp/B001005TX2) to secure the LEDs to the frame
- Picture hanging hardware
## Tools & Other Stuff We Used
- Table saw or miter saw
- Drill
- Screw driver
- Heat gun
- [Solder Seal Wire Connectors](https://www.amazon.com/TICONN-Connectors-Waterproof-Insulated-Electrical/dp/B07GDDKJ1D/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2P0VSAXZ6N8NA&dchild=1&keywords=wire+connectors+heat+shrink&qid=1587579339&s=automotive&sprefix=wire+connectors%2Cautomotive%2C205&sr=1-5)
- [Bolt-on kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4103) to attach the wires to the CLUE
- [Silicone stranded wire](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4103) in various colors
A soldering iron is NOT required for this project, though if you've got one, you can use it in place of the solder seal wire connectors and the bolt-on kit.
- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-vertical-garden-weather-visualizer/how-it-works.md)
## Featured Products
### Adafruit CLUE - nRF52840 Express with Bluetooth® LE
[Adafruit CLUE - nRF52840 Express with Bluetooth® LE](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4500)
Do you feel like you just don't have a CLUE? Well, we can help with that - get a CLUE here at Adafruit by picking up this sensor-packed development board. We wanted to build some projects that have a small screen and a lot of sensors. To make it compatible with existing projects, we made...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4500)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4500/guides)
### Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 30 LED
[Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB LED Strip - White 30 LED](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1376)
You thought it couldn't get better than [our world-famous 32-LED-per-meter Digital LED strip](http://adafruit.com/products/306) but we will prove you wrong! These NeoPixel strips have 30 digitally-addressable pixel LEDs per meter and are very affordable and are only 12.5 mm...
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1376)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1376/guides)
### JST PH 2-Pin Cable - Female Connector 100mm
[JST PH 2-Pin Cable - Female Connector 100mm](https://www.adafruit.com/product/261)
Red and black tinned wires with a 2-pin JST PH connector on the end. 4" / 100mm long. Matches up nicely with our Lipoly chargers!
[We have the socket 'mating' version of this cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3814) over here,
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/261)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/261/guides)
### Female DC Power adapter - 2.1mm jack to screw terminal block
[Female DC Power adapter - 2.1mm jack to screw terminal block](https://www.adafruit.com/product/368)
If you need to connect a DC power wall wart to a board that doesn't have a DC jack - this adapter will come in very handy! There is a 2.1mm DC jack on one end, and a screw terminal block on the other. The terminals are labeled with positive/negative assuming a positive-tip configuration...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/368)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/368/guides)
### 5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed
[5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply - UL Listed](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276)
This is an FCC/CE certified and UL listed power supply. Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 2000mA. 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are "US 2-prong" style so you may need a plug adapter, but you can pick one...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/276)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/276/guides)
### Bolt-On Kit for Circuit Playground, micro:bit, Flora or Gemma
[Bolt-On Kit for Circuit Playground, micro:bit, Flora or Gemma](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4103)
You have a [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333), and want to connect some wires to it for adding LEDs or sensors or speakers? You can use our nice alligator clips, but they are a little bulky. If you aren't quite ready to solder to your Playground,...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4103)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4103/guides)
### Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 2m 26AWG Red
[Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 2m 26AWG Red](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1877)
Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire for being extremely supple and flexible, so it is great for wearables or projects where the wire-harness has to...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1877)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1877/guides)
### Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 2m 26AWG Black
[Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 2m 26AWG Black](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1881)
Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire for being extremely supple and flexible, so it is great for wearables or projects where the wire-harness has to...
In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1881)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1881/guides)
## Related Guides
- [Introducing Adafruit CLUE](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-clue.md)
- [CLUE case](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-case.md)
- [Bluetooth Cycling Speed & Cadence Sensor Display with Clue](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluetooth-bicycle-speed-cadence-sensor-display-with-clue.md)
- [NeoPixel Basketball Hoop](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-mini-basketball-hoop.md)
- [CLUE Altimeter](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-altimeter.md)
- [CLUE Light Paint Stick with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-light-paintstick.md)
- [CircuitPython CLUE I Ching Caster](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-i-ching-caster.md)
- [Cosplay Glow Fur Raver Bandolier](https://learn.adafruit.com/cosplay-glow-fur-raver-bandolier.md)
- [Yoga Pose Chime](https://learn.adafruit.com/yoga-pose-chime.md)
- [Using the Bluefruit Dashboard with Web Bluetooth in Chrome](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluefruit-dashboard-web-bluetooth-chrome.md)
- [Creative Inspiration Activity Generator](https://learn.adafruit.com/creative-inspiration-activity-generator.md)
- [CLUE Slim Case](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-slim-case.md)
- [Clue Coffee Scale](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-coffee-scale.md)
- [CircuitPython Connected Weather Cloud Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-connected-weather-cloud.md)
- [CLUE Step Counter](https://learn.adafruit.com/clue-step-counter-st-lsm6ds33.md)
- [CircuitPython BLE Libraries on Any Computer](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-ble-libraries-on-any-computer.md)