July 2014 Newsletter

FormLA Newsletter

VALUED CUSTOMERS & FRIENDS+

We almost always focus on the benefits of sustainably landscaping the out-of-doors. Thank you to Amelia Doyle Feichtner with Cuningham Group for helping us understand the importance of indoor foliage – and providing an opportunity to innovate indoors! This issue is dedicated to the extraordinary benefits we reap from bringing a little nature inside. Just imagine the benefits to mental and physical health when we take it outside!

Sincerely,
Cassy and Kirk Aoyagi

LATEST NEWS+

Tour Cuningham Group’s Hayden Place
Gallery: What would you do to feel more alive, focused and happy at work? …to have employees that show up on time and have focus? It might be as easy as adding foliage to your space. Cunningham Group, an internationally known sustainable architecture firm, did just that at their beautiful, modern Culver City headquarters, Hayden Place. Tour
Improve Focus, Attendance… with Foliage
Tips: Watch Dwell’s Will Lamb interview Cunningham Group Principal Amelia Doyle Feichtner and FormLA Landcaping President Cassy Aoyagi about the benefits of indoor foliage and the innovative foliage-filled lobby at Hayden Place. Watch
Plant Cotton Candy-like Blooms
Wet-to-Dry: Two plants provide plumes of white that look like large sticks of cotton candy peppering California hillsides. One is native here and throughout similar coastal sage and chaparral plant communities, and is well adapted to fight drought and fire. The other invaded our hillsides and bears responsibility for a good share of Los Angeles’ fire, flood, slide cycle. Which will you choose to have in your garden? Read More

WHAT TO EXPECT+

Los Angeles is expected to be a dry county through the summer. Just because it will be difficult (and expensive!) for thirsty plants doesn’t mean your garden needs to look desiccated come BBQ time. We’ll be putting extra effort into keeping native gardens vibrant and party ready. We will:

Beautify for BBQs!

  • Rinse foliage to keep it lovely and improve transpiration in high heat
  • Prune Oak Trees to maintain form and shade
  • Mulch to refresh garden beds and retain water
  • Clip the prettiest cut flowers and foliage for indoor bouquets
  • Set the stage with extra lighting, heating and container gardens at party time!

Protecting Garden Beauty from Drought:

  • Change timers to comply with local ordinances day and time restrictions.
  • Manage timers for optimal watering (DYI? Check the BeWaterWise Calculator to determine the right schedule for your garden.)
  • Eliminate run-off, overspray and leaks
  • Water by hand where necessary
  • Give mature trees a deep soak once a month
  • Ensure natives are not being overwatered – they dig the heat!

 

LATEST NEWS+

Tour Hayden Place
Improve Focus with Foliage
Plant Cotton Candy-like Blooms

WHAT TO EXPECT+

Beautify for BBQs!
Protecting Garden Beauty from Drought

TEAM UPDATE+

Service Leadership Training

UPCOMING EVENTS+

Save the Dates
Request FormLA Speakers

TEAM UPDATE+

FormLA Landscaping earned an Employment Training Panel (ETP) grant to provide training in service leadership to our team. Each of our more than 30 team members receive frequent training in horticultural, irrigation and water infrastructure, safety, and sustainable building and maintenance. This training will ensure our full team also has a soft skills growth path and provides above and beyond service to you.

About FormLA Landscaping+

FormLA® Landscaping is transforming Los Angeles, one beautiful, sustainable landscape at a time. Learn more about sustainable landscaping in our Resource Center, see vibrant landscapes in our Project Gallery, or check our Events page to tour our work and meet the FormLA Team. We look forward to connecting with you!

CONTACT FORMLA+

Cassy and Kirk Aoyagi, Principals: Cassy@formlainc.com

Mark Britten, Production Manager: Mark@formlainc.com

John Avakian, Bookkeeping: John@formlainc.com

Ed Woodbury and Sergio Cusner, Maintenance and Horticultural Team Leaders: Ed@formlainc.com and Sergio@formlainc.com

USGBC FormLA on Facebook

 

info@formlainc.com • PO Box 441 Tujunga, CA 91043
phone 818.353.7030 • 310.979.9002 • fax 818.353.6837 • www.formlainc.com
View Past Newsletters

Nature at Work

Indoor Landscapes Bring the Beauty and Health Benefits of Nature Inside

When reporting about indoor air quality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), estimates that Americans, on average, spend about 90 percent of our time indoors, where pollutants are often substantially higher than those found outside.

Just as outdoor sustainable landscaping makes a monumental impact on individual and community health, indoor foliage can enhance our health and our lives. Numerous studies correlate access to or even views of nature with improved learning performance, hospital healing times, attendance, productivity, focus, and retail sales growth, as well as reducing VOCs and the symptoms of ADHD.

Watch our Facebook Page for more clips with tips on incorporating indoor foliage.

Sources and Resources

Hayden Place Lobby