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

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

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

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/

From November 17th -19th, 2010 Cityscapes Living Walls were on display at the Seaport World Trade Center for Build Boston’s 1st Annual Innovation Pavilion.  Our Living walls were chosen as one of Boston’s most cutting edge innovative building products.  Each of the products that were selected have only been in the market for 3 years or less. Build Boston is the Northeast’s largest regional convention and tradeshow for engineers, architects, contractors, interior designers, and other industry professionals with an annual 15,000 attendees each year. Below are some images of our living walls that were on display at the event.

For more information about Build Boston: www.buildboston.com

Janice Goodman of Cityscapes recently donated an array of fall plants to Ms. Pforr’s kindergarden class at North Pembroke Elementary School.  Janice taught the children about roots, stems, leaves, and how plants grow.  She also helped them plant the foliage for their day of gardening.  Check out the pictures from this fun event below!

September 28th, 2010 - Janice Goodman helped teach students from Cambridgeport School in Cambridge, MA how to plant a 7 foot Edible Living Wall.  The children used swiss chard, peppers, cabbages and rosemary as their choices for the edible plants for the wall.  Cityscapes loaned the 7 foot frame to the school for a week so they could use it to display at the CitySprouts School Garden Celebration at the Tobin School this past Saturday.  Please read the article from Cambridge Day by Monica Velgos and click on the posted article links below for more information and some images from the event.

More Links:

http://cportgarden.blogspot.com/

http://www.cambridgeportpto.org/

On April 27 ^th at the Bronx County Court House in New York, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. together with Janice Goodman, President of Cityscapes in Boston, George Irwin, CEO of Green Living Technologies in New York, and Steve Ritz, teacher at Discovery High School in the Bronx, NY, presented Discovery High School students with their Nationally Recognized Employment Certifications in a ceremony highlighting the youngest citizens in America to have completed an extensive green roof and wall certification program.

From the Left: Presentors Steve Ritz, Ruben Diaz Jr., George Irwin, and Janice Goodman at the ceremony.

Janice Goodman, had contracted Green Living Technologies to train and certify her key staff members as green wall and green roof installers. While working out the details of the training, George Irwin and Jan Goodman had decided to fund this training and certification (via scholarships) to several outstanding horticulture students – two from Silver Lake Regional in Kingston and ten from the Discovery High School in the Bronx. Thirteen Cityscapes’ employees also earned their certifications.  The training took place on February 26th and 27th at Cityscapes’ office and greenhouses.

The certification will give these students a chance to get ahead and employed anywhere in the green industry having completed a rigorous academic training session and completing a professional installation to the satisfaction of the leader to the industry who also has college programs, workforce development, and other training initiatives.

The concept of growing good food, good jobs and good citizens by tapping into one of our greatest wasted resources – urban youth – came from Steve Ritz, a teacher with an impressive dedication to his students and a track record of achievement. At his current teaching position at the Discovery High School in the Bronx, he is working with students in one of the most challenging environments in New York City. Ritz just oversaw the installation of a living, edible green wall that was donated by Green Living Technologies.  He was also the sole recipient of the 2010 US EPA Award, the highest award given to a citizen from the EPA. 

The students from Discovery High School and Silverlake High School along with Jan Goodman, Steve Ritz and George Irwin.