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10 | OHCC LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2026 | Landscape Committee Is Addicted When we meet new people, my husband likes to tell them that I have a plant disease. Unsure whether it's contagious, they often find a reason to end the conversation rather quickly. What he really means is that I have a plant addiction. As it turns out, I'm in good company. The Landscape Committee is made up of five people who all share this same "aff liction," although we arrived here by very different paths. Our professional backgrounds include commercial real estate, education, financial planning, and electronics design. Just as each of us took a unique road to OHCC, we each learned about plants in our own way. One member gained years of practical knowledge working alongside landscape architects on large commercial developments. Another discovered a passion for gardening through the Vista Garden Club and generous mentors. Others simply immersed themselves in books, research, and hands-on experience. Our reasons for loving plants are just as diverse. Some are captivated by the endless variety of colors, textures, and forms. Others enjoy using plants as design elements that complement and enhance one another. One member is especially drawn to native plants because they thrive where nature intended them to grow. And then there's the person who simply can't explain the attraction — only that being surrounded by plants feels like exactly where they belong. The same diversity of thought is what makes our committee work. We all recognize that OHCC's landscape is aging and that thoughtful planning today will help preserve its beauty for years to come. Some of us joined to help make sound decisions for the future. Others wanted to collaborate with people who share the same enthusiasm for plants. And for one member, the reason is refreshingly simple: they just love landscapes. Science tells us that spending time in nature reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, and improves focus and overall well-being. We may not need scientific proof to know how good it feels to be among plants, but it's nice to know our addiction comes with health benefits. As volunteers, we hope our efforts will do more than enrich our own lives. We want to help create a landscape that enhances the beauty of OHCC, increases property values, and provides enjoyment for visitors and everyone who calls our community home. The greatest reward, however, may be that we get to support one another in our shared addiction. Fortunately, it's the kind of addiction that we hope will make OHCC more beautiful. If you would like to join us, you don't have to share our addiction but be aware that it might just be contagious. By Terri Babek and Peggy Goodman Landscape Committee