Monthly Archives: November 2024

The Aoyagi Laboratory, Tujunga

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This is what we believe world-saving looks like

FormLA Landscaping owners Cassy and Kirk Aoyagi wrapped their mid-century modern home with a lush, leafy, low water landscape. The naturalistic space, overflowing with hyperlocal California native plants, provides a refuge for the family, friends and an abundance of wildlife.

A child runs through a verdant meadow toward his parents.
The space offers room to run and play as well as plenty of always-changing, wildlife-attracting foliage to inspire curiosity.

“We can save the world by planting natives,” 
Cassy said as she offered a walk through the couple’s
lush, natives-filled backyard in Tujunga.
As you watch the birds and butterflies descend
upon the garden’s native flora…
you find yourself nodding in agreement.

Los Angeles Times, 2019

Project Snapshot

The Aoyagi’s back garden serves as a laboratory. It’s an ever-evolving, jubilant celebration of foothill native foliage full of fragrance and life. The California Native Plant Society featured a tour of this garden’s fire-defensive features in Flora, its seasonal magazine.

Vernal Pool | Spring
Aoyagi Garden | Autumn
Kirk and Dara | Aoyagi Garden
The Aoyagi Garden | Spring
Vernal Pool | Winter
Biodiverse Hedge | Aoyagi Garden
Goldn poppies and an abundance of vibrant color surround Cassy and pup Dara as they stroll through a lush meadow.
IdealMow Meadow | Aoyagi Garden

See more photos in the full project gallery in Houzz, where you can save your favorite ideas.

Plant Palettes

Want to create a fire-defensive, water-sinking, world-saving garden? Check out the plant palette we chose for the Aoyagi garden, and see more IdealMow Lawn and Meadow options. Save your favorite ideas in Pinterest.

Showcase Spanish, Holmby Hills

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Wrapping Water Features in Foliage Provides Additional Delight

Steal the look of this $19 million Holmby Hills estate! California native foliage designed and installed by FormLA Landcaping complements a fusion of Mediterranean architecture and clean, modern hardscapes by Pretty Smart Design.

Lush waves of IdealMow meadow grass retain the gentle slope.

Project Snapshot

The owners of this beautiful, expansive property preferred to maintain their privacy. These photos are a rare opportunity to tour the space!

Lush Foliage Adds Privacy
Strategic Lighting Adds Ambiance

See the garden’s seasonal changes in the full project gallery in Houzz, where you can save your favorite ideas.

Plant Palettes

Looking to reduce an expansive lawn to create a more custom, curated aesthetic? See and save our IdealMow lawn alternative and slope saving palettes in Pinterest.

Rustic Forested Garden, Granada Hills

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Native Plant Garden Tour Favorite Designed for Grandkids

This rustic natural open space entices people to wander the full landscape. A flowing decomposed granite trail passes under a forrest of mature frees, through an IdealMow meadow, and past dry river and native plant beds. There is also ample room for rest and entertainment in the BBQ Bar and Outdoor Lounge. The garden has been a semi-perennial favorite on LA’s iconic Native Plant Garden Tour.

The tree covered trail wraps the full property, offering a cool reprieve on sunny days.

The garden’s back trail is a favorite of Houzz editors and those gathering ideas for their own landscape renovations.

Reading or napping in your hammock won’t be nearly as appealing if it’s baking in full sun.

Pay attention to your yard throughout
the day to find a spot that gets ample shade. Beneath a tree, near a fence, at the side
of the house or on a porch all offer
some relief from the heat and UV rays.

Houzz Magazine, 2020

Project Snapshot

Each year it is featured, tour visitors delight in the front meadow’s vivid green mix of IdealMow grasses, including Dune Sedge with pops of Blue Eyed Grass.

See the garden’s seasonal changes in the full project gallery in Houzz, where you can save your favorite ideas.

Plant Palettes

Looking for lush, lovely, livable space? Check out the plant palette for the Taylor Garden, and save your favorite IdealMow Lawn and Meadow ideas in Pinterest.