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| THE COLONY NEWS | JANUARY 2024 | 9 Winter landscape in e Colony: Especially for newcomers, I thought I would discuss what the winter landscape looks like in e Colony. While our season for plant dormancy isn't as long as in the North, we do have a dormant season… like, now. Front Lawns: is is when the front lawns with fescue shine (mostly homes on the west side of e Colony). e other lawns (east side) may be composed of Bermuda grass or Kikuyu or mixed together with fescue. In any case, Bermuda and kikuyu go dormant (look dead), causing a patchy look to the front lawn. We don't remove these "patches," because the grass is not dead. And one whole greenbelt (G19) is comprised of buffalo grass, which goes dormant in the winter. I have covered why we don't convert all front lawns to Bermuda or Kikuyu (non-thirsty grasses) in previous newsletter articles. Trees: ose trees and bushes which are deciduous began shedding their leaves in November, and this will continue for a while, causing leaf litter. Some have given a lovely show of autumn color (reds and yellows). Examples here are sycamore, crape myrtle, Chinese flame, Chinese pistache, jacaranda, ornamental pear, ginkgo, palo verde, etc. e leaves are le on the ground until the maintenance rotation schedule comes up for that area, or during winter mowing of lawns. Fruit drop: e pineapple guava bushes in greenbelts are dropping their fruit, which signifies the fruit is ripe. is makes wonderful jam, and folks can take this fruit. If not harvested, it will be cleaned up by the maintenance crew. But if you have fruit drop in your back yards, please remove it immediately, since rodents love figs, tomatoes, citrus, apples, etc. Winter color: It's our goal always to have something colorful showing in e Colony greenbelts, and we have been pretty successful except when Mother Nature temporarily throws us a curveball. Now is the time for the decorative berries! Pyracantha and nandina (orange), and toyon (red). e euphorbia "Sticks on Fire" turns orange. Blossoms are on the tecomarias (Cape honeysuckle – orange-red), and grevilleas (pink, salmon). Depending on when we get a freeze, here and there might be some purple Mexican bush sage blossoms, rose bushes, bougainvillea, or salvia (red – at Nutmeg entrance). In February, look for the white ornamental pear trees to bloom, especially on Via Siena and along the parking lot at the Clubhouse. And the coral aloes will be budding up (orange). "is is not a walkway" signs: Some folks think they are not allowed to walk along greenbelts anymore because of these recent additions to the greenbelts/wildbelts. e signs are just warning that YOU are taking responsibility if you walk there, as it is not a designated walking path. On another note, do you wonder where your property ends and your neighbor's begins? is may come up if you are planning to redo your planter. Each lot has property markers set into the curb at each corner of your lot. ose in front of my house are set in the cement and are about the diameter of a nickel. ey indicate the edge of your property (and the beginning of your neighbor's), and you can draw a straight line back to your side yard from there. ere are apps helpful in showing these markers, but they are not free. If you have further questions, please contact the HOA office. LANDSCAPE ADVISORY By Jan Foster, 951-698-0170

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