Update on Landscape Projects

• Our major project for this year - 28 Shepardson - is done except for the finishing touch of mulch. It looks great thanks to the design efforts of Corinna and the great plants selected by Rick from Jensen.

• Most of the plants for the remaining locations are already on site and will be planted shortly!

• The mulch for the path to Bay from Sheffield came from the large Alder by the lagoon that had to be removed.

Next Landscape Walkthrough to be Scheduled

The next landscape walkthrough will likely be the week of Dec 9th. The date and time will be posted as soon as I can confirm with Detra and Rick. Due to the holiday - there wasn't a walkthrough last month. This will be the last walkthrough for the year.

The focus for the walkthrough will be:

1 - Irrigation - The irrigation has been turned off in compliance with East Bay MUDs request for reduced water usage in this time of severe water shortage. Rick has checked various locations and verified that there is enough moisture in the ground to sustain plant life. However, if you see any plants that look distressed, please post a comment or let Detra know so that we can check them out.

2 - Pruning (especially ivy from buildings). Are there places where ivy or shrubs is growing on the building?

3. Leaves - Due to the mild weather seems like most of the leaves are still on the trees. However, if you see any areas with an excessive build-up of leaves please let me know.

Planting Projects are underway!

The plants have been placed at 28 Shepardson and will soon be planted. This is the largest of the landscaping projects for this year. A large tree was removed from this site this year. Several years ago, an extremely large stone pine was removed and little was done to repair the landscaping, so it was time for an overhaul of this area.

The other landscape projects for this year involve mostly replanting at locations where we had to remove Melaleuca trees which had grown too large for their location. Trees have been ordered for most of these sites and will be planted soon. We are still determining what to plant at a couple of the locations.

Landscape News

The Board approved the following landscape proposals at the October Board Meeting:

1 - Tree replacements - phase 1 of replacing trees that were removed.

2 - 28 Shepardson Project

3 - Tree work -
Removal of Alder at the end of the bicycle path. Unfortunately, this tree has succumbed to wood borers.
Various pruning (for clearance and tree health) and fertilization of ailing trees.

Several other tree removals have been deferred till spring due to budgetary constraints.

4 - Thrips treatment for Arbutus

Landscape Walkthrough Friday, October 31 @ 11am

Meet at the front gate if you would like join us for this month's walkthrough. Topics include:
1 - Distribution of fall leaves
2 - Landscape projects
3 - buildings needing ivy pruned

Please post comments here if you know of any areas that need attention.

Landscape Walkthrough Friday Sep 26th @ 1 pm

Please note time change. This month's walkthrough will be at 1 pm. Topics to cover include:

1 - Pruning

The Jensen crew have been focusing on pruning the Arbutus. These are the small trees/shrubs with the red fleshy fruit. Are they any more small trees/shrubs than need puring?

2 - Irrigation

Has anyone noticed any areas/plants that have suffered from irrigation cut backs?

3 - Fall Plans

Maintenance Issues

Plantings

Please post a comment here if you will be attending. You can also post a comment about any landscape issues you want addressed.

Landscape Walkthrough Friday August 29th @ 11am

Meet at the front gate. This month's walk-through will focus on the following:

1. Irrigation Issues - Has anyone noticed any areas in distress due to the reduced water?
2. Pruning - Follow up on arbutus tree pruning and pruning for clearance.
   
3. Leaf relocation. Would like to designate areas for redistribution of excess leaves. For example, area near 101 Bay Park Terrace accumulates too many pine needles.
4. Tree Removal landscape repair status. Trees will be removed in October. Corinna has graciously volunteered to provide a design for the area by 28 Shepardson. We need to start moving on the rest of the areas.

Landscape Walkthrough Thursday, July 31 @ 11am

Meet at the front gate. This month's walk-through will focus on pruning and leaf clean-up.

July Landscape Walk-through to be rescheduled

Due to conflicts, this month's walkthrough will be rescheduled. The new date will be posted once a date and time that works is determined. Stay tuned!

Next Landscape Walkthrough Friday 6/27 @ 11am

Meet at the front gate if you like to join us our monthly walk through the grounds with a representative from the landscape company. Before doing the walk there will be a brief meeting at the pool area to discuss a few items including mulch, feasability of discontinuing using leaf blowers, Melaleuca tree removals and irrigation. If you have any landscaping items that you would like addressed, you can post them here.

Landscape Walkthrough Friday May 30 @ 11am

Meet at the front gate if you would like to join us for the monthly walkthrough with a representative from the landscape company.

Items for May Landscape Walkthrough

Please click on 'COMMENTS' at bottom of this post to list any items that you would like to be looked at the next walkthrough. The next walkthrough will probably be Friday May 30th, but needs to be confirmed with landscape rep.

Bay Friendly Garden Tour Photos

Click here to see my photos from 4 Alameda Gardens , that were included on the Bay Friendly garden tour.

Next Landscape Walkthrough Fri. 4/25 at 11am

Meet at the front gate for the monthly walkthrough with a representative from our landscape company. We will also discuss mulch choices.

New weeping cherry tree in bloom

This is a photo of the new tree that was planted on Parfait in the fall.

New plantings at front gate and on Riddell

The latest changes approved by the Board have been implemented. A few plants that weren't doing very well at the front gate have been relocated to a new location where hopefully they will thrive. In their place are some plants better suited to the location. Also, a bare area on Riddell has some new plants.

Next landscape Walkthrough Friday 3/28 @ 11am

Meet at the front gate if you would like to join us for the monthly walkthrough with the representative from the landscape company. You can also post comments here regarding landscape items that need attention. Some items we will be looking at during the walkthrough
- Area behind Riddell/Parfait - trunk needs grinding, dead shrub removal,
- Replacement of light colored bark
- Area at the end of Damon Ct
- Pruning
- next set of improvements

Melaleuca trees to be removed

Unfortunately, the Melaleuca Trees are increasingly becoming a problem. Many were planted too close to pavement and buildings and their large roots keep pushing up the pavement or causing other problems. Last year, two of the trees caused problems with the drainage system. As a result, the Board has decided to remove all Melaleuca Trees that are planted too close to buildings. Those trees that need to be removed will be identified and plans for the areas will be made to replant appropriately to each site.

The Melaleuca trees are the trees with the white peeling bark.

Landscaping Update

We braved the rain to do the walkthrough on February 20th and the sun eventually joined us! Items discussed include the following:

• The light colored mulch in most interior areas will be replaced with a mulch that blends better with the surroundings.
• The next set of improvements will be installed the last week of February. Watch for some changes by the front gate and on Riddell.
  
• For the next few weeks Jensen will focus on pruning plants away from the buildings in preparation for the upcoming painting.
• We took a look at the location on the bicycle path behind 23 Parfait where a tree was requested. There are two pittosporums already there that will eventually provide the desired privacy screening. Jensen will fertilize these plants and make sure they are pruned to promote vertical growth.
• Jensen will provide bid for replacing downed Hopseed tree in area behind Riddell with Acacia tree.
• Jensen will provide bid for removing Pine tree on Riddell.
  

Next Landscape Walkthrough Wednesday 2/20 at 9am

If you would like to join the landscape walkthrough meet at the front gate at 9am. If you are unable to attend the walkthrough, but have items you want addressed, please contact Lyra or post comments here.

Landscape Walkthrough to be rescheduled

Due to the rainy weather, the today's landscape walkthrough will be rescheduled for a different day - probably for the week of the 28th.

Next Landscape Walthrough, Friday Jan 25 @ 11am

Meet at the front gate if you would like to join us for the monthly landscape walkthrough. If you are unable to attend the walkthrough, but have items you want addressed, please contact Lyra or post comments here. The agenda for the January walkthrough includes:

-- Mulch color and use
-- Flooding issues at 131 Shepardson
-- Request for tree on bicycle path
-- Suggestions for a Blog poll