Trees
In the mid-1970's, when the master plan for the Community of Harbor Bay Isle was conceived, the overall landscape design concept was determined to be an urban forest. The intent was for trees to dominate the landscape. You may have noticed that trees throughout Harbor Bay have a tag with a number. Each Association, as well as CHBIOA, is charged to care for and protect the health of the trees in their common areas. There are currently 365 trees, all tagged with a number, under the care of BLB.
A BLB Tree Inventory was created by and is maintained by the Landscape Committee. Davey Tree Service uses this inventory to evaluate trees over 15’, each December, for trimming, fertilization and/or removal. As the trees at BLB have grown over the past 35 years, so have costs to maintain them. In keeping with the original landscape design concept, the care of our trees is a top priority.
Drip Irrigation
Did you know that twice a year BLB conducts a Complete Irrigation System Check? A Cagwin & Dorward Irrigation Technician is assisted by 2 board members and a member of the Landscape Committee to test all 82 valves and 7 controllers. These BLB volunteers work with the technician for 7 hours to help identify leaks, breaks, failing plants, check bubblers on trees and to create a spreadsheet of repairs needed.
Weekly Maintenance
Cagwin & Dorward provide our landscaping service. A crew of 2 men come every Thursday. A Landscape Walk Through is conducted with the C&D Account Manager, the Association Manager, 2 Board members and the Landscape Committee. The purpose of the walk-through is to set goals for the crew’s work during the next quarter and evaluate progress toward last quarter’s goals. It is also a time to discuss any issues that have come up in the past 3 months. BLB recognizes that while it would be ideal to have more maintenance service, budget constraints dictate what we can afford.
How You Can Help
BLB is a large community with lots going on in terms of landscaping—trees, plants, mulch, and the drip irrigation. It “takes a village” and BLB is no exception. Here’s how you can help.
Remove all pots and personal items from the common area soil. Now that trees and plants will reach up to and beyond everyone’s front door, residents are asked to remember NOT to put any pots on the common area soil. Pots are welcome on your front steps and of course on your patios.
Be aware of evidence of problems with the drip irrigation and contact the Association Manager ASAP. The drip irrigation is covered by mulch and goes on at night, so the only way to identify problems is for each of us to keep our eyes open for evidence of dying plants or water from a leak or break that appears on sidewalks or the street. If you see a place that looks like a problem, please immediately contact the Association Manager.
If you see tree work that needs attention, contact the Association Manager. Let the Manager know if you think a particular tree needs to be evaluated. BLB tree work is done once a year in February, after an annual evaluation in December. Unless there is an urgent safety issue, tree work is not done on an individual basis.
Please do not give the landscaping crew instructions. They are charged by the Board to maintain all shrubs and the trees <15’ in the common area. There is a Board-approved pruning guide that sets the height limits for the shrubs. While we may feel like the plants around our front doors “belong” to us, in reality they are Association property and decisions regarding their upkeep rests with the Landscape Contractor in consultation with the Landscape Committee and approval by the Board.
The Landscape Committee invites your comments and suggestions. Kathy Fricke and Corinna Fong are currently on the committee; stop us and talk when you see us around. Also, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the many contributions of Eddy Lehrer who is currently taking time off the committee to spend time with her photography.
Submitted by K. Fricke and C. Fong
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