Monthly Archives: February 2016

Bold and Beautiful, Pasadena

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The Art of the Garden Tour, hosted by the Creative Arts Group of Sierra Madre, is known for showcasing noteworthy gardens in the foothill communities of Los Angeles. In 2016, the tour will feature five water wise gardens, including this Pasadena garden and two others created and maintained by FormLA Landscaping.

This southwestern-style garden bursts with colors and textures that draw attention to the terra cotta tile roof of the home. Rich with color and texture, the garden adds far more than curb appeal. A dry river routes water flow away from the home into garden beds ripe with chartreuse, blue-grey and bronze foliage. Bright green foliage joints integrated into the concrete car park likewise add pops of color and also prevent runoff. Trees of varied textures bring vertical interest, deep greens, and cool the air around the home by as much as 20 degrees.

Enjoy both the front and back gardens during the Art of the Garden Tour Sunday, April 17, 2016. In the meantime, see more of the garden in Houzz or checkout our garden palettes in Pinterest to get the look.
Follow FormLA Landscaping’s board Art of the Garden, Pasadena on Pinterest.

If you like the Art of the Garden, Pasadena plant palette, you may also like the all-California native New (Bold) Look for LA palette. Both beautifully complement southwestern, Spanish and modern architectural styles.
Follow FormLA Landscaping’s board A New (Bold) Look for LA on Pinterest.

Hummingbird Haven, Altadena

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Native, Mediterranean Plants and Natural Materials Wrap English Manor

Few gardens illustrate LA’s potential for year round greenery like this 2016 Art of the Garden Tour home in Altadena. In the winter months, multiple shades of green ensconce petite patios with lush and leafy foliage. From spring through autumn, the garden comes to life with blooms ranging from buttercup carpeteria and scarlet red Mexican Lobelia to lilac grey Ceanothus. Raised edible gardens deliver a an ever-evolving array of seasonal delights.

The bed between the drive and meadow draws throngs of hummingbirds.

Walks and patios, likewise, illustrate the New Look for LA, an aesthetic that can only be achieved in our Mediterranean climate. A shaded outdoor great room with fireplace welcomes visits throughout the year. Gravel, flagstone, and permeable concrete patios allow water to absorb into the soil, preventing runoff in El Nino and making use of every drop in drought.

Tour Gallery

The front garden was newly planted at the time of the tour. It has since grown into its full glory – a beautiful match to the back garden.

The Newly Planted Hummingbird Haven
Established front Garden
Established Back Garden
Flagstone Paths
Specimen Rose in Native Blooms
Bush Anemone
Soothing Water Fountain
Natural Stone Edging
Raised Edible Beds
Back Garden Lounge
Roxie at Full Speed

Plant Palettes

In addition to the well-established back garden, the Art of the Garden Tour Sunday, April 17, 2016 will feature a newly installed front garden designed to maximize the traditional home’s curb appeal. In the meantime, see more of the garden in Houzz or checkout our garden palettes in Pinterest to get the look.

Friendly French Provincial, La Canada

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Mediterranean + Native Plants and Front Garden Gathering Spaces Delight Neighbors

Whether you prize beauty or practicality, this Mediterranean style garden will delight you. In 2011, La Canada Valley Beautiful recognized its “understated yet elegant” way of “beautifully complementing the home’s French architectural style.” In 2012, the San Gabriel Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council praised its water savings and featured it on a tour of water wise landscapes. In 2016, the garden was one of five noteworthy foothill gardens featured on the Art of the Garden Tour, hosted by the Creative Arts Group of Sierra Madre.

Even when deciduous trees lose their leaves, the garden maintains a lush, leafy and distinctive aesthetic.

From the curb to the front door, the La Canada garden engages the senses. The scents of rose, French lavender, Tuscan rosemary, and Elfin thyme fill the air. Lush and varied year-round greenery surrounds a visual playground of flagstone paths and gravel patios. The crunch of gravel beneath the feet adds percussion to the songs of birds. This feast for the senses replaced a lawn and dramatically improved the home’s curb appeal.

“Form LA redid our front yard in 2008,
and our now- fabulous back yard in 2015.
They also do the monthly maintenance.

We could not be happier
with how great everything looks.
Yes it was expensive, but
our home is worth the quality work!”

Jeannie Kay, Houzz Reviews

Project Snapshot

The architecturally appropriate garden replaced a boring expanse of turf grass with vibrant, low water use foliage that evolves with the seasons.

Before: A Boring Lawn
French Provincial | Spring
French Provincial | Winter
La Canada Beautiful Award
Roses provide a seasonal focal point.

Plant Palettes

If you like the Art of the Garden, La Canada look, check out its plant palette and the climate compatible Mediterranean palette featured at the Gardens of the World. Both beautifully complement French, English and traditional architectural styles.

In addition to the well-established front garden, the Art of the Garden Tour Sunday, April 17, 2016 will feature the back garden’s entertainment-ready mix of outdoor rooms and putting greens. In the meantime, see more of the garden in Houzz, learn more about the front garden from Pasadena Weekly.