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| THE COLONY NEWS | MARCH 2023 | 15 Weren't the blossoms on the ornamental pears in the Clubhouse parking lot and along Via Siena fabulous last month? Now it's the orange coral aloe blossoms! Spring is here! I call to your attention the Landscape Standards and Guidelines, a copy of which is in The Colony Homeowner Telephone Directory which was delivered last month, pages 74-78. This section is devoted to Landscape in front yards, greenbelts, and wildbelts. A map was included with the Directory, but it only shows houses, streets, and golf course holes. If you want to see the greenbelt and wildbelt numbers, you will need to get a free copy of that map at the HOA office. When do rules apply to Landscape and when do they apply to Architecture? If the question deals with something in the dirt, look under Landscape rules. If it deals with hardscape or structures, it will be in the Architecture rules. There is a schedule for everything in the Colony. After all, there is an area equivalent to 80 football fields to maintain. For instance, front yards are mowed (outside of drought) every week April-October, every other week November-March (unless it rains or seeds are sprouting). Front yards are fertilized three times a year, greenbelts two times. Shrub trimming is every seven weeks in winter, five in summer. Weed removal is every four weeks from February to November, as needed. And so on. Obviously, the crews can't be everywhere at the same time, so The Colony is divided into five Maintenance Areas. For instance, Area 1 is both sides of Colony Drive and Corte Albara, all the way to the Nutmeg Gate (including Corte Fortuna, Andar, and Corte Sabio). As soon as one is done (usually a week), they go to Area 2, etc., until all five areas are done, then they begin Area 1 again. Homeowner patience is appreciated. Any questions as to when something is scheduled to be done can be answered by our Landscape Superintendent, Anthony Reynoso, or his assistant, Avel Walker. Anthony and the landscape contractor do all the scheduling. If you have a work request, and you have filled out the proper paperwork, you may get the reply from Anthony that "It's on the list." What does that mean? Some requests are waiting for the maintenance rotation. Some requests are waiting to be grouped with others. This happens frequently with tree removals, pruning, and plantings. Grouping is for cost reasons and for crew efficiency. Basically, it means the request is noted in the system…. on the list. NOTE: Anyone wishing to install front yard hardscape (new sidewalk, driveway extension, etc.) must ALSO notify the Landscape Department before any work is done. There are many pipes and wires under the grass. This also applies if homeowners wish to install river rock between their sidewalks and houses. The landscape contractor must remove existing soil and prepare the bed for the rocks. Have you seen trees with tall stakes beside them, yet the rubber banding is hanging, not supporting the tree? This is a test to see if the tree is strong enough to stand on its own. If it is, the stakes will be removed; if not, the band will be put back on. Bands dangling is not an oversight. AREA WALKERS: The LAC members will be conducting their area walks (we have 14 areas) the entire month of March. We examine every front yard and every greenbelt, noting where plants need to be removed, replaced, or added. And we take a cursory look to see if there are too many boulders in the front yard (no more than six allowed); if the solar sidewalk lights are on the house-side of the sidewalk; and, among other things, whether there are any items in the tree wells (none allowed). Please look at your front yard to be sure you're in compliance and that none of your artifacts impede the landscapers' duties. Tree inspection happens once a year and is not generally a part of the area walks. So, if you see a group of people with badges and clipboards looking at your front yard this month, relax. We're only here to help you. LANDSCAPE ADVISORY By Jan Foster, 951-698-0170

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