There Goes the Neighborhood!

Realtor.com. March 12, 2018. By Stephanie Booth (@stephaniebBarth): Your neighbors couldn’t care less about what you keep on the mantel above your fireplace. And they wouldn’t expect you to check with them before you pick out new paint for your bathroom. Your yard, however, is a very different matter.

The Ideal Home Office

Inspired Living Omaha. February 26, 2018. By Erik Martin: One of the perks of working from home is the ability to roll out of bed on your own clock and get down to business in a bathrobe, if you so desire.

But another major perk is the opportunity to create a workspace that’s as conducive to comfort as it is productivity.

Plant Right, Prevent Fires

KABC House Smarts, October 21, 2017. Host Lou Manfredini interviews Cassy Aoyagi about the Authentic Foothill Gardens and how the picking the right plants protects the foothills from fire. (32:18)

What’s Next in LA Green-Building?

Green Home Builder. September 2017. By Cassy Aoyagi: This is a ripe and critical moment for the green building community in Southern California. Just as builders and developers worked to define an aspirational standard for buildings, we have the opportunity now to help the public understand the impact and value of green spaces – at home and in our neighborhoods.

7 Fire-Retardant Plants

September 30, 2017. By Lisa Boone: Consider all the potential solutions to help save your home during a wildfire and landscaping seems an obvious choice. But are the drought-tolerant solutions that many of us have already implemented – turf removal among them – enough to fend off fire?

12 Ways to Save on a Summer Garden

Credit.com. August 2, 2017 By Trae Bodge: Back in the spring, you were confident you would have an award-winning garden by now. You thought you planned and planted well, but as you enjoy a glass of rosé on the back porches of friends, you realize that your garden pales in comparison. Never fear, it’s not too late.

Santa Monica Conservancy 
Receives LABC Award

Santa Monica Daily Press. July 26, 2017. By Guest Author: The Santa Monica Conservancy‘s Preservation Resource Center received one of only two Preservation Awards presented by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC).The ceremony honored the Conservancy for its role in saving and rehabilitating a late 1890s Shotgun House, which now serves as a LEED Gold certified educational center and a model for adaptive reuse for the community. The City of Santa Monica, Fonda-Bonardi and Hohman Architects, Historic Resources Group, Minardos Group and FormLA Landscaping were also recognized for the Shotgun House project.

Santa Monica Shotgun House Wins Another Award

The Lookout. July 21, 2017. By Lookout Staff: A tiny “shotgun” house restored by the Santa Monica Conservancy continues to reap in some big awards, the latest coming from the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC).

4 Ideas for Small Backyards

Zing! July 10, 2018. By Kathryn Walsh: Sometimes, good things really do come in small packages. Having a compact yard means less maintenance and lower plant costs, and it doesn’t necessarily require you to sacrifice your vision of the perfect yard.