Whether a residence in the Arts District where Lulu's foliage sets off Chiapas Indian 'angels', or a commercial restoration project such as the Temple of the Music and Art, Lulu is requested because her ability to lend 'magic' to a project is required.

Greenhouses at the Environmental Research Labs present demonstrations to the visiting Japanese on their technologies and the potential of plants, whether exterior or interior, to function as 'Clean Air Machines' in the urban renewal project for downtown Tokyo, and Mexico City, as well.

Foliage and soil combine to eat pollutants and can be used effectively when:

• you seek to offset vehicle transmissions on your curbs at your residences,
• you incorporate a system in the banks of a polluted Tokyo freeway where they can be energized to drive pollutants through the foliage air machines,
• you wish to offset inside your offices the effects of gases such as formaldehydes and other pollutants that conspire and can contribute to the research being conducted on Sick Building Syndrome.

To learn more about how plants can clean the air in our sorroundings click here.

Often called upon to relate the interiors of today's commercial properties to the spectacular views of the Southwest, Lulu's interiorscape at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon presented a challenge. Her task was to blend the spirit of an old hunting lodge with the views of the Catalinas, while coordinating the surrounding hues inherent in such an outside-inside display. What a great view we have here in Tucson!

 

Lulu has often used her background in set direction for various concert artists and movie sets. A micro project demanded this 12" long Boxscape so that it could be photographed to represent the October floods of 1983 in the form of this very large billboard. The United Way wanted to "Thank Tucsonans" for their support and generosity during this period and to the campaign, to which Tucsonans generously give year after year.

The splendor of the desert, particularly in December during all of the celebrated holidays, has allowed Lulu year after year to design ways to support its magic. This 1988 award-winning project demonstrates how gold lame, iridescent papers reminiscent of the lavenders in Tucson's mountains, and the same four hundred-Barrel cacti can be used year after year for one month in the Westin La Palonia. Lulu also provided the mile of luminarias and Sahuaro lighting, which she intended to be a lighting ceremony to kick off the holiday season in Tucson. Her problem? They liked it so well they refused to take it down. Now, many Sahuaros, always magical wherever they are, have festival lighting all year.

click on image for
a larger view

It is more difficult to move a plant into the State of Arizona than it is to move it from Florida to Europe. For this reason, we often find numerous suppliers who are either unwilling or not eligible for the shipping of the Potted Giants. The risk and expertise required to move quality foliage from a major nursery in Florida, by carrier, to a destination construction site which inevitably is behind schedule for the big opening, requires a logistical specialist.

• The install of the Westin La Paloma found four semi's pulling up to a Portocochere transformed overnight with wet flagstone, requiring the movement of 30' plant material over marbled floors, in a space that had a 60 ' drop to the third floor below. The construction supervisor, confounded with a turnover deadline and Tucson's summer rains, said, "I promised you the inside of the building, not the outside!"
• The Tucson Convention Center provided Tucson's team of agriculture inspectors with a days work of coring, which results in testing in a lab in Phoenix. If one plant fails, they all fail and must be destroyed. Many times we are the last contractor allowed on the job because we need painted and clean facilities which we don't necessarily get. We are often forced to install, and then wait for what has always been good news. The selection of clean, reputable growers is a major component of the trust which is incorporated into the facilitation of the overall process. With all trees in place, Tucson's lead ag inspector walked up to me three hours before the Governor was to arrive and told me that a tree had failed. He laughs at his joke to this day, and better yet, I still speak to him!

This thirsty Black Olive tree was photographed before and after it's terrible journey across country. It has been in place for 10 years in the Williams Centre Atrium. It wasn't always as it looks today. Loaded on a semi in Florida it was to have arrived 4 days later in Tucson, 7 days being the maximum one allows for a plant locked in the dark. This tree arrived after 9 days. The trucker failed to inform that he would stop and drop Poinsettias in every big box store he could find between the Coconut Grove and Tucson. Providing a feel-good canopy for those who read under it during lunch, is only one of the pleasures that this tree brings to this delightful spot, twelve years later.

 

When entire projects, as in the christmas tree above, or when the silk environments for the Bank of Tucson and Southern Arizona Connnunity Bank are created, it is important to mention that Lulu would never have the opportunity if it weren't for her clients, the true special projects. Approaching 30 years of business in this terrific place, we would never have been allowed the opportunity to 'create' if it hadn't been for our unique and wonderful residential and commercial clients.