Privacy Hedges: Why A Mix of Plants Is Better Than One

Los Angeles Times. April 26, 2013. By Craig Nakano and Cassy Aoyagi: You might recall that when a reader wrote about twin rows of Italian cypress — one established and healthy, the other newer and dying — the SoCal Garden Clinic asked a Pasadena nurseryman to tackle the question of why the plants might be struggling for survival. Now, with spring planting upon us and installing privacy hedges a priority, we thought we’d get a second opinion from landscape designer Cassy Aoyagi, co-founder and president of the Tujunga firm FormLA Landscaping.

LA at Home: 2013 Pasadena Showcase House Preview

Los Angeles Times. April 18, 2013. By Bob Chamberlin: The annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design, open Sunday to May 19, features the work of more than 25 designers who transformed a 1941 Monterey Colonial in Arcadia originally designed by Roland E. Coate Sr. Take a look at some of the home and garden design ideas that await visitors.

Garden Walls Come Alive with Color and Texture

Washington Post. April 30, 2013. By Sarah Wolfe for the Associated Press: Looking for a fresh way to liven up your garden walls? Think plants, not paintings. Living pictures — cuttings of assorted succulents woven together in everything from picture frames to pallet boxes — have caught on among garden designers and landscapers this spring as an easy, modern way to add color and texture to an outdoor space.