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Where the deer and the antelope once played, so now do senior citizens. A century ago the San Gorgonio Pass was the place to go to warm up in the winter and cool down in the summer, blessed (or cursed) with ever-changing winds from the sea and the desert. A decade ago K. Hovnanian planned a 55-and-up community in this haven. Ground was broken in 2005 and houses sprouted up along the Potrero Creek. In the next two years, prospective homebuyers, construction crews and landscapers dodged each other while the first phases took shape and residents arrived. From all this turmoil there was inevitable confusion. For landscapers planting turf, flowers and tall trees while plumbers extended water lines to their roots was maddening. Four Seasons was not the only development competing for resources, and shortages, mismatches and delays were typical; the plants were likewise confused. Early resident Jacque Sneddon accepted the challenge as the first Landscape Committee chairperson in May 2006 and Jim Bardo was the first board liaison. Meetings in 2006 and 2007 were heavily attended with new homeowners identifying dying plants, untended planter areas and concerns about the trail system maintenance. At that time there were only three Landscape Committee members. In 2007 the builder began turning over portions of the development to the HOA and the committee expanded to seven members. In June 2008 Sneddon filled a vacant position on the HOA Board (she's now president) and was replaced by Fred Weck. Sneddon then became the Board liaison to the committee. Weck instituted a policy of joint committee-contractor-Euclid Management monthly walks to inspect front yards and common areas. This was in response to 102 landscape calls from homeowners in the month of June and 108 in July. In December all the fruit- bearing olive trees on Canary Creek were replaced with non-fruit bearing olives in accordance with the original plan. In early 2009 frost damaged many front yard planter areas. This was our first experience with "surprise frost" that occurs in the area after plants begin their spring start up. The committee also initiated studies of two areas that suffered during the heydays of hectic building activity: the Springdale community and the Laurel Paseo. In both areas the landscape designs proved inappropriate with incompatible and invasive plants, poor irrigation schemes and limited homeowner access to parking in the Springdale models. In 2009 the committee began to address the problem of cottonwood tree roots invading sidewalks, walls and curbs. In 2010 as construction began uphill from Potrero Creek and the water pressure was increased, the committee had pressure regulators installed on the initial irrigation system to stop the line breaks from pipe fittings not designed for increased pressure. In June Phyllis Beede assumed the chair. In the fall the Laurel Paseo project was completed, sycamore trees were added to the removal list and the rewrite of our landscape contracts was completed. We had inherited the originals from the builder and needed to tailor them based on our practical experience. At the start of 2010 the Ad Hoc Water Committee spun off from the Landscape Committee to focus on water saving measures. The Association also took control of the Highland Springs trail (now named Trail C). A second "surprise frost" decimated the Gazania ground cover in many front yards. Our tree population for the Association grew to 2,624 of which half were over 15 feet in height. In May Len Tavernetti became chair. The explosion of bunnies along the creek feeding on newly planted grass plagued the Dewey Creek area. Our water company continued to increase the costs of water and power to transport it to us. Together with the Camera Club the LC sponsored a photo display of landscapes at Four Seasons. A water savings test was initiated along Crooked Creek. Sheree Harris who was the Euclid Management representative to committee the Landscape Committee departed in August 2012. She had been with the committee since its inception. Mari Salazar replaced her. Weck had remained to shepherd the Springdale upgrade and in 2012 it was completed with a ribbon cutting ceremony in October. In 2013 the committee expanded the Amphitheater area, added the fencing along Trail C and the planned the development of a park area at Four Seasons. A black oak tree was planted on November 11 in the Trail C Park as a memorial to our veterans. We also inherited the fuel modification zone in the wilderness area adjacent to our western side. Fabiana Spinelli joined the Landscape Committee as the new Euclid management representative to the committee. This year we continue to modify the experimental garden we call Four Seasons. The plants that can't adapt, the curb appeal plants of the builder and invasive species that tagged along with new homeowners are on the endangered species here. We have increased our number of water meters from 22 to 34 as more land and homes are transferred. The Front yard Cost Center is now completely under the control of the Association. Times are a'changing. 6 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2014 | COMMUNITy NEwS Landscape Committee foUr SEaSonS SPotLiGHt By Leonard Tavernetti Former Euclid Representative Sheree Harris and past Landscape Committee Chairmen, Jacque Sneddon, Fred Weck, Phyllis Beede and Len Tavernetti

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