March 2013 Newsletter

FormLA Newsletter

VALUED CUSTOMERS & FRIENDS+

This will be a vibrant, busy spring full of opportunities to see you! We owe a very big, special thanks to the Rosen and Weiss families for sharing their beautiful native gardens on the 10th Annual Theodore Payne Foundation Garden Tour. It is this kind of generosity that is literally reshaping Los Angeles, moving our understanding of lush, beautiful landscapes to a more sustainable and distinctively California aesthetic. Whether you are looking for inspiring ideas or a chance to get your hands in the dirt, please join us in enjoying LA’s natural beauty at one of our upcoming events!

Sincerely,
Cassy and Kirk Aoyagi

LATEST NEWS+

Win Theodore Payne Native Garden Tour Tickets!
The first 3 readers to correctly identify the invasive species we are removing from the Sunland Welcome Garden will win 2 tickets to this year’s Theodore Payne Foundation Native Garden Tour! Enter to Win!
Saving LA, One Weekend at a Time!
Meet a Hero: We all know the benefits of curb appeal for our residences – faster home sales, higher sales prices… but what about the curb appeal of our communities? Meet a community hero changing the face of Sunland one weekend at a time. Get a Sneak Preview
Plant to Save Your Home
Tips and Inspiration: We normally provide tips about how and what to plant. Patricia Garcia with New Home Source, interviewed three landscapers to identify plants and strategies that can damage your home. She provides some great tips for preventing worst-case-scenarios. Read More
Plant Monkeys in March

Trade in your Water Lilies (Nymphaea spp.) for some water loving floaters like Seep Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus).

Like the water lily, California native Seep Monkey goes dormant in winter, but comes back at first warmth with lush foliage and incredibly vibrant and prolific yellow flowers.  More attractive to native beneficial insects like bees and hummingbirds, the Mimulus draws critters that increase pest control and biodiversity in your garden.  While Lilies provide community housing with their broad, round green leaves, fish and baby tadpoles also love the monkey’s wonderful hiding places. Mimulus provides more than a home for these water loving creatures, it creates a healthy pond ecosystem that keeps the mosquito and pesky fly population down.  Some other native water plants that partner well with the Seep Monkey Flower are Anemopsis californica and Juncus patens. Combining them all creates a riot of pond color and life for a healthy biological water feature.

WHAT TO EXPECT+

Last week’s storms did not take us quite as far as we could hope. Los Angeles is still at 49 percent of normal waterfall for the month. FormLA teams will be making sure you get the most out every drop. If you prefer to DIY, join us in taking the following steps:

Conserving water and soil moisture:

  • Replenishing mulch to conserve water and increase organic matter
  • Increasing mower heights to reduce evaporation from lawns
  • Changing batteries on irrigation timers
  • Pushing the clocks forward on irrigation and lighting timers
  • Pruning Mediterranean foliage

Prepping your gardens for a productive, beautiful spring:

  • Planning spring vegetable gardens to match your meal interests
  • Identifying and cut flowers and foliage to brighten indoor areas
  • Placing or fixing outdoor lighting to ensure your outdoor space is safe and optimally charming for spring and summer entertaining

LATEST NEWS+

Win Garden Tour Tickets!
Saving LA, One Weekend at a Time!
Plant to Save Your Home
Plant Monkeys in March

UPCOMING EVENTS+

Sunland Welcome Garden Events
Gourmet [Native] Garden Tour
Theodore Payne Native Garden Tour
Pasadena Showcase House
Hike and Learn with Theodore Payne

WHAT TO EXPECT+

Conserving water and soil moisture
Prepping your gardens for a productive, beautiful spring

TEAM UPDATE+

Landscape Industry Show

UPCOMING EVENTS+

March 16 and 23: Sunland Welcome Garden Events
March 30: Gourmet [Native] Garden Tour
April 6 and 7: Theodore Payne Native Garden Tour
April 21: Pasadena Showcase House of Design Opening Day
April 27: Hike and Learn with Theodore Payne Foundation

Save the Dates
Request FormLA Speakers

TEAM UPDATE+

The full FormLA team attended the Landscape Industry Show. While we always love staying on top of the latest and greatest developments in the field, this year’s show had special treats for us. The California Native Plant Society and Theodore Payne Foundation hosted their second annual Native Plant Bingo, a great educational event for area landscape professionals. Another sign that our native roots are taking hold: S&S rolled out thousands of square feet of native sod onto the show floor, a handsome and soft alternative to the usual synthetic turf flooring.

Cassy Aoyagi is featured in a new book on women business owners In Her Own Way, now available through Amazon.

About FormLA Landscaping+

FormLA® Landscaping designs, builds and maintains custom sustainable landscapes that beautifully complement the distinct and varied architecture of Los Angeles County. See our expanding Portfolio.

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 Katarina Eriksson, Maintenance and Horticultural Team Leaders: Kat@formlainc.com and Ed@formlainc.com

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