Notes from your VRP Landscape Committee Chair:

We had a few rainy days in July 2010 that have helped the plants get though the beginning of summer. K-ler Landscaping has changed the irrigation box timers to three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one hour per day. As we move into August VRP has been taking care of various irrigation and hardscape repairs as needed at the various patio homes.

There have been a number of requests to remove larger shrubs and evergreens that have gotten too big for the planter space or others that have reached the end of their life cycle. Unfortunately, Landscaping does not have any more money left in the budget for these projects and many will have to be delayed until next year. I have spoken to a number of homeowners and have made a list of these projects - when the Board works out the 2010 budget we will try to budget these projects in.

Also in September, I surveyed each patio home on the condition of their Purple Leaf Flowering Plum tree in the front yards. We know a number of them are in failing health and would like to start a long term plan of removing them and replanting new ones as the budget allows. We are trying to expand our list of core plants that are used in VRP foundation plantings. A number of the evergreens that have been planted are getting too big and some of the pyracantha is reaching the end of their life cycles. We have been looking at a variety of plants that are now available in a dwarf size - with a maximum size of 4 or 6 feet which would be a much better fit for our small gardens rather than the normal size plants that are 10 and 12 feet high.

Working with the local plant nursery's in Prescott the Landscape Committee has come up with a list of replacement plants for the Valley Ranch Patio Home front yards. The list has been divided-up based on the size of the plants. The Landscape Chairperson along with the homeowner will discuss the pros and cons of the plant selected and what plant may be the best choice for the area to be planted. Also based on the time of the year some plants may not be available till certain times of the year.... in that case the homeowner can decide to wait or another similar plant will be recommended. Clck here for list of plants being considered.

Other factors are how much maintenance they require, how javelina and deer proof they are, water requirements, and can they survive our winter microclimate. Some of the patio homeowners have planted various plants on their own and have success with them. Please let me know your successes and failures.

Over the past two years I have planted 4 different varieties of daylilies in my front yard. The javelina and deer seem to ignore them, plus the flowers add a nice touch of color and attract the hummingbirds and bees.