Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1536619
FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2025 27 Landscape Committee Pollinator Garden at e Summit Even if you frequent The Summit for bocce ball, you might have missed a charming new addition: a thoughtfully-designed pollinator garden, installed to both beautify our community and support the local ecosystem. This garden is the successor to the original pollinator garden at Veterans Park, which unfortunately failed due to overwatering issues that arose due to the entire park being on one controller. Learning from that experience, the Landscape Committee imagined, and the Board approved, a new location and plan in November, and by January, installation was completed by Park West Landscape Management, using a design inspired by committee member Patti Pitts. The new garden is planted exclusively with native California species, carefully chosen to thrive in our climate and attract the region's natural pollinators. At the heart of the garden stands a young arbutus (strawberry) tree that will join its siblings providing striking red bark. The plants are new and the garden looks sparse but, in time, the tree will be surrounded by f lowering plants selected for their beauty, drought tolerance, and ecological value. More than just a planting bed, this space is a peaceful retreat. On a pleasant day, it offers a lovely place to relax, ref lect, and take in the magnificent views that make our community special. But what exactly is a pollinator garden, and why does it matter? What Are Pollinators? Pollinators are animals — mainly insects like bees and butterf lies, but also hummingbirds and even some bats — that help fertilize plants by transferring pollen from one f lower to another. This process is vital for plants to produce fruits, seeds, and new plants. Why Do We Need Pollinator Gardens? Pollinator gardens are designed to attract and support these helpful creatures by providing them with the food, shelter, and nesting spaces they need to survive. In return, pollinators ensure the reproduction of plants, contributing to biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and even our food supply — since over 75 percent of f lowering plants and about 35 percent of crops depend on pollinators. Unfortunately, many pollinator populations are in decline due to habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and invasive plant species. By creating pollinator-friendly spaces, we help reverse that trend locally and do our part in a global conservation effort. Our new pollinator garden is a small but significant step toward a healthier environment, a more beautiful community, and a better future. We invite all residents to enjoy this vibrant space — and to share in the care and appreciation of the natural world that supports us all. ~ Kirk Freyermuth, kafreyer@frontier.com Finance Committee The financial statements for April 2025 were reviewed and recommended for Board approval. In addition, we reviewed expenditure proposals for various recommended projects in the community. We also reviewed investment recommendations to move maturing investments to higher-yield, FDIC-insured instruments. Highlights of the April financial statements are: Total Cash is $11,478,362 including operating cash funds of $2,142,909 (checking and CDs), reserve account funds of $9,318,102, and reconstruction funds of $17,351. Our total year-to-date current income is $192,234. Homeowners are welcome to join us at the Finance Committee's regularly-scheduled monthly meetings held on the last Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, July 29 at 1 pm in the RCN Conference Room. The Finance Committee reviews and discusses many issues that you may have questions about. Residents are welcome to attend one of our meetings to become more familiar with our finances. At the beginning of each meeting, we allow three minutes per homeowner not to exceed 30 minutes in total for comments. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Jolene Cooley at joleneaudit@gmail.com. ~ Jolene Cooley