PELICAN COVE LANDSCAPING- THE RE-LANDSCAPING 2009-11

HERE IS OUR NEW LANDSCAPING FOR BOATHOUSE CIRCLE. 
IT'S FINALLY FINISHED.

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE:

The re-planting of Boathouse Circle has finally been completed. I am very happy with the results.

It will look even better after some of the later plantings have grown in.

The one reservation I have is that it would have been even better if the tips of all the parking islands had been planted (as per the specs) with lush, curving macho ferns to offset the rectangular parking garages. There was no reason for this not having been done.

Overall, however, I think it gives us the kind of green, flowing landscaping Boathouse Circle needed and deserved.


The design was meant to achieve the following important objectives :

1. replant the area with shrubs that would grow and thrive in the dense shade of Boathouse Circle.

2. Use lush, curving plants that would off set the harsh, rectangular parking garages, which are the densest in Pelican Cove.





In addition to the original plan, the Grounds Manager has planted 5 lush firecracker ferns at critical points for color. These will fill out, add color, and grow to a height of 3 feet in a few months.


This took almost 3 years. I can't tell you how much time I have had to spend insuring that it was completed to the design specifications. The entire project took no more than 3 weeks of labor, yet it stretched out to almost 3 years because of continuous delays and objections that no experienced landscape architect would have made.

That residents should have to spend so much time and effort in getting the landscaping they want is indicative of how flawed communications between grounds and residents was during this period.


Connie Lang, the new General Manager, has made significant changes that have already improved that communication.

This improvement resulted in the replanting of the last 2 islands (which had been delayed for no good reason for over 9 months) finally took place in a matter of days as well as new plantings of lush, colorful firecracker ferns beneath the central roadway trees as well as on several key islands.

In addition, the garden opposite the water fountain in the Harbor House pool was lushly replanted.





SOME HISTORY: For those who are new to Boathouse Circle or who have forgotten what we had to go through to get this new landscaping, here is a brief history:


Boathouse Circle was INITIALLY replanted in 2006 after residents complained to then General Manager Bob Malan of the unsuitability of the existing landscaping, which was dying. The current Grounds Manager, who was new on board, was assigned the project. No design plans were submitted to the residents prior to planting.

The new plantings were not only unable unable to grow in the dense shade of Boathouse Circle, they were also small plants completely at odds with the lush landscaping enjoyed by the rest of Pelican Cove. (See pictures left and below, which were taken 2 years after the 2006 replanting.)

This is a good example of why we need a 3D computer projection of any proposed landscaping which can be easily presented to an experienced Landscape architect, the residents, the Grounds Committee for review and approval prior to the expense of planting.

This was exactly the case with the this second redesign which was done without any drawings whatsoever, and without any input from an LA. It proved so unsuitable that the entire area had to be replanted, a very expensive proposition.


HERE IS WHAT THE ORIGINAL 2006 RE-LANDSCAPING DESIGNED BY GROUNDS MANAGER LOOKED LIKE (AFTER TWO YEARS OF GROWTH ) AND PRIOR TO TO SECOND RE-LANDSCAPING IN 2009-011







































THIS IS WHAT THE EMPTY LOT LOOKED LIKE ON THE EAST WEST PART OF BOATHOUSE CIRCLE




When the current Grounds Manager was approached as how poor this new landscaping was ( SEE PIX ABOVE AND TO LEFT), residents were told it was the equal of any other landscaping in PC and that nothing would be changed.




Because of this, the majority of the residents of Boathouse Circle signed a second detailed petition requesting the landscape be redone to be more in keeping with the lush landscaping of the original Pelican Cove.





After the Ground Manager refused to recognize the signed petitions, they were presented to the new General Manager, Kevin Richards, who directed the Grounds Manager to replant the 22 parking islands to the specification drawings of resident Justin Spring.

The Grounds Manager also agreed to landscape the empty lot and decided on his own to re-landscape some of the plantings against the walls of the condos.


What you see today, 3 years later, is the result, which is not only more beautiful, but more suited to the problems cause by the dense parking garages and heavy shade of Boathouse Circle.