September 15, 2011 (Boston, MA) – The public gathered in Boston’s Back Bay for Carbon Day in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint in the city of Boston.  The  exhibits on display included programs for tree and green space stewardship, green roof and living wall technology,  innovative varieties of  electric transportation,  and information about new plans for electricity use in our city and state.  This year Cityscapes supported the cause by participating in the Urban Foliage exhibit.  Cityscapes displayed two of their free-standing, portable living walls and provided information about the extensive benefits indoor plants and living walls can provide to your space.  The event was sponsored by Boston University Center for Energy and Environmental Studies and Clean Energy and Environmental Sustainability Initiative.

Please take a look at some photos from the event:

Jennifer Berube of Cityscapes, manning the exhibit

For more information about the benefits of plants click here: http://www.greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org

Who’s Decking Your Halls This Holiday Season??

Let Cityscapes be the ones to deck your halls for Holiday 2011!!!

Whatever your preference may be– holiday trees, wreaths, garlands, swags, snow scenes, arrangements and poinsettias– this festive season gives us the opportunity to put our design know-how to work!

Leaves are falling

Don’t wait to be calling

Get it off your plate

Before it’s too late!

*Visit our Showroom!

*Go On-Line!

*Schedule a Free Consultation!

*Our designers will come to you!

Check Out What’s New For Holiday 2011!

WINTER FOX

PURPLE PLATINUM

WINTER BERRY

Cityscapes has it all!

Lease and Purchase Options Available!!

Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment

Lights,Camera,Action!!

Exciting Happenings at Cityscapes!

September 28, 2011 – At 9:30 P.M. last Wednesday evening, DIY Network aired their “Brave New World” episode of This New House.  The episode included segments on the “New Old Green Modular Home,” a safe and natural way to get rid of ticks and mosquitos, window wells, and of course Cityscapes vertical gardens also known as Living Walls.

Co-Host of This New House, Kevin O’Connor, along with the rest of the film crew shot the segment in Cityscape’s Living Wall Showroom/Greenhouse in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay back in April 2011.  Janice Goodman, President/Owner of Cityscapes, was featured front and center as she guided Kevin through the process of planting an herb “picture wall” for her office.  Janice showcased a variety of systems and custom designs that are available through the latest Living Wall technology.  She also talked about the significant benefits that indoor plants can have on people.  Cityscapes is featured during the last eight minutes of the episode…check it out!!

Below are some pictures from the set!!

Janice Goodman teaching Kevin O’Connor the basics of Living Wall systems.

Janice Goodman with Kevin O’Connor from This New House

This is one of the beautiful living walls that was planted during the shoot!

For more information regarding this episode, click this link: http://www.diynetwork.com/this-new-house/brave-new-world/index.html

Can you believe it?

It’s already that time of year again….

On September 8th and 15th, Cityscapes opened its doors for clients to present our 2011 Holiday Showroom.  While our guests enjoyed some light conversation, drinks, and snacks, they got the opportunity to view our new themes for Holiday 2011. Some of our new themes include “Winter Fox”, “Winter Berry”, and “Purple Platinum.”  Popular themes from previous years such as “Winter Sparkle”, “Limelight”, and “Razzle Dazzle” were also on display.  The events were so successful that we decided to open up the showroom for two more nights on September 22nd and the 29th. Enjoy the photo gallery from the events below.

Sue Cunningham of Cityscapes gets the Winter Fox decor ready

Janice Goodman launching the first open house!

Janice Goodman, President, and John Higgins, Sales Rep, cheering on a job well done!

Janice Goodman, Brad Austin from Modular Pots, and Amy Walker of Cityscapes

Janice Goodman and Jen Berube of Cityscapes

Amy Walker, Sales Rep at Cityscapes with Brad Austin of Modular Pots

Now that’s how you sign a contract! Amy Walker with Nagib Charles from Paradigm Properties

If you are interested in attending one of our showroom openings or scheduling a meeting to take a look, please Contact Us here or at 617.451.1364.

Mark Your Calendars!

September 19th through 23rd is

National Indoor Plant Week!

Why PLANTS you may ask?

Studies show that house and office plants can provide great benefits including:

• Stress Reduction
• Purified Air
• Illness Reduction
• Dust Reduction
• Lowered Energy Costs
• Noise Reduction
• Sparks of Creativity
• Mood Elevation
• Distraction Reduction
• Improved Appearance of any area

If you are interested in adding some green to your office, hotel, or residence please Contact Us

What is one of the newest, most cutting edge designs for office plants in Boston???

MODULAR POTS!!

Fresh off of the 2011 Plantscape Industry Alliance Expo’s Showroom, modular pots are a unique system which combine office plants, architectural elements, and seating all in one beautiful structure.  The design possibilities are endless!

Check it out!

Presenting Cityscapes newest addition to their Boston office!

If you are interested in finding out more about Modular Pots, please Contact Us

From August 30th – September 1, 2011 P.I.A.’s annual Plantscape Industry Expo took place at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas.  This interior plantscape expo attracts people in the industry from all over the U.S. each year, staying true to it’s motto “where the interiorscape industry grows.”

On Thursday, Sept 1st the expo came to an end at the Awards Gala where antendees were  inducted into the Interior Plantscape Hall of Fame and recipients of the P.I.A. Awards  were announced.

Janice Goodman & Amy Walker of Cityscapes were honored to accept an Award of Excellence in the Exterior Garden Category for Cityscapes’ Exterior Landscaping Designs at the Intercontinental Boston Hotel (image from the Awards Gala below).  Cityscapes was awarded on exterior landscaping projects completed at the hotel between June of 2009 through October of 2010.

Janice Goodman and Amy Walker at the Awards Gala accepting the award

Janice Goodman with Bill Meade from Architectural Supplements who was also the Chairman of Exhibition

According to Janice Goodman, appropriate plant selection was the biggest challenge at the Intercontinental.  Since the hotel is located on the waterfront, the plants have to be able to withstand the harsh winds and full sun throughout the day.  We made it a priority to select plants that would thrive in this type of atmosphere.  There are forty large terracotta containers encircling the back rotunda area of the hotel that get four seasonal rotations a year to always keep it fresh and colorful.   We used a unique mirage of flowers and foliage each season including tropical yellow mandevilla trellis’, bright red hardy mums, coleus, geraniums, and rare hot pink oleander trees to give the space a “South Beach” feel.  Take a look at some of the winning design photos below.

The planters at the front entrance and valet area of the hotel was also a difficult location for the plants to thrive due to its lack of light and exposure to heavy traffic.  For Spring Cityscapes rotated fresh cut branches every six weeks such as forsythia, flowering quince, and the cherry blossoms pictured below.  During other seasons such as summer, one rotation of tropical foliage such as bromeliads, succulents and phoenix roebellini (below right) was sufficient.

Meil Restaurant, located at the hotel, wanted to create an atmosphere similar to a “French Provence”  while providing privacy for diners on their outdoor patio.  In response to their request, we placed rectangular planters between each table to provide a screen filled with plants reminiscent of France.  An herb garden was also installed so the diners can watch the chef pick fresh product for their meals!  Fruiting citrus trees and flowering topiaires lined the walkway along the  restaurant to accent the theme.  (Below)

Some other categories that were judged in the design competition were Green Roofs, Living Walls, Horticultural Service, Major Renovation, Installation, and Design. To find out more about the P.I.A. Expo and Awards click here www.piagrows.org

August 18 – 20, 2011 – Boston GreenFest was held at Boston City Hall Plaza this year.  Boston GreenFest, organized by the Foundation for a Green Future, Inc., is the region’s largest multicultural environmental festival that celebrates the many ways we can create a better world by greening our lives and our communities.

Cityscapes joined up with the GLTi team and showcased three of their free-standing living walls for the three day event.  Janice Goodman of Cityscapes gave George Irwin, President of Green Living Technologies, support during his hands on demonstration of a green roof installation by answering questions for attendees and bystanders.  Participation in George’s demonstration offered AIA credits at no cost to attendees.   Take a look at Cityscapes/GLTi’s exhibit at GreenFest and the Roof Garden from George’s demonstration below.

Pembroke, MA/Boston, MA, July 1, 2011 – Janice Goodman, President and Owner of Boston based premier plantscaping company Cityscapes, welcomed the staff from the DIY Network’s show Indoors Out (www.diynetwork.com) to redesign her backyard into an outdoor living space.  The hosts of Indoors Out, Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns, both professional stonemasons and contractors, base their show around transforming boring backyards into functional living spaces.  Included in the redesign was an outdoor kitchen and bar under the cover of a gorgeous wooden pergola, an edible living wall, a pond with a waterfall, and a lounging area.  The final result was nothing less than stunning!

This project presented the opportunity for Cityscapes to install a residential outdoor living wall.  Using Green Living Technologies (www.agreenroof.com) patented stainless steel panel wall system, two 6′ by 4′ walls were kitty cornered and backed with stone by the outdoor kitchen.  Janice specifically designed and planted the wall with herbs and edible plants so she would have easy access to use them when she is cooking for or entertaining family or guests in the outdoor kitchen.

Throughout the design phase and installation process, a few local companies lent a helping hand.  Don Carney of Carney Tree & Landscape (www.carneylandscape.com) in Duxbury helped the team design the outdoor space.  The extensive stonework surrounding the kitchen, bar, and living wall was installed by CC Nightscape (www.stoneworksbyccnightscape.com) of Cohasset.  Using a combination of stones and boulders found around the Goodman’s residence, Shades of Green (www.shadesofgreenldm.com) of Pembroke designed and installed the beautiful pond complete with a waterfall.  Specialty plants including Japanese Maples and Conifers were purchased from Katsura Gardens (www.katsuragardens.com); a local nursery.  Patrick J. Gannon Construction (www.trustthisbiz.com/patrickjgannon_construction) of Weymouth built the structure for the living wall and erected the pergola.  The pergola was donated by Average Joe’s Pergola Depot (www.pergoladepot.com).

The installation and filming began on June 26th and wrapped up on June 28th.  The show is set to air in the Spring of 2012.  Cityscapes living walls will also be featured in another DIY Network show, This New House, this upcoming July.

On May 26, 2011 Cityscapes welcomed members of Boston Green Tourism to our lush greenhouses and living wall showroom in the heart of the Back Bay.  Boston Green Tourism is an organization that strives to encourage and educate visitor-industry professionals to make their businesses greener.  Janice Goodman, President and Owner of Cityscapes, spoke about Living Walls and the many benefits they can provide to make your building cleaner and greener.  Annette Rinaldi of Wedding Flowers By Annette provided gorgeous flower arrangements to brighten up the atmosphere. Take a look at some pictures from the event provided by Dave LaChappelle of Amore Photography.

Janice Goodman of Cityscapes

Left: Alyce Crowley of Cityscapes

Left: Executive Director of Boston Green Tourism Dan Ruben

Janice Goodman and Annette Rinaldi of Wedding Flowers by Annette

Beautiful Arrangement provided by Annette Rinaldi

Bright Pink Peony Arrangement

For more information regarding:

Boston Green Tourism click here  http://www.bostongreentourism.org/

Wedding Flowers by Annette click here http://www.weddingflowersbyannette.com/

Amore Photography click here  http://www.amorephotography.com/