The Trellises

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MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER:

Message from Mary Broussard Kindness is Contagious Invest in Green Highlights from last months HOA meeting and events.

The Birds and the Bees NEED Our Flowers and Our Trees:
A Message from Mary Broussard, Board Secretary & Landscape Committee Chairperson
As many of you may have noticed, in recent weeks there has been an increasing number of visitors observing and surveying our property. Im speaking not only about the return of the lizards, iguanas, birds and butterflies, but also gardeners, landscapers and arborists. The Board of Directors is in the process of collecting estimates and bids from several respected landscape management companies to bring our property into compliance with the City of Plantations rules, regulations and codes regarding the removing, replacing, replanting, pruning, crowning and thinning of our trees and palms. Our landscape environment is considered a precious resource by our homeowners and by the City. It is protected by codes and enhanced by city-wide efforts. It is critical that we maintain the health and balance of our environment to participate in the citys Good Neighbor voluntary code compliance initiative. In an attempt to ensure that we are following the policies and procedures of the City of Plantation, we invited Diana Berchielli, the Citys Chief Landscape Plans Examiner, to tour our property and give us ideas and suggestions to improve the appearance of our ecological environment. It was a most enlightening visit and provided us with a road map as to how we should proceed. We were advised that the landscape on our property should be maintained using proper horticultural and arboricultural practices, which include, but are not limited to, scheduled fertilization, proper irrigation, insect and disease control, and proper pruning and trimming techniques for all of our trees and palms. We currently have 142 hardwood trees, 121 palm trees of various species, and 19 Gumbo Limbo trees. All of these beauties are in need of some attention, whether it be trimming, pruning or white-fly treatment. We cant ignore these beautiful stalwarts of our community! So, in the very near future, you will be seeing some significant horticultural interventions taking place. All options are being carefully examined to ensure the most prudent application of resources and the Board is in the final stages of choosing the service provider that best meets the communitys needs. Some of the initial trimming and pruning may make us all shudder, but rest assured that we will have selected the most knowledgeable and conservative arborists to complete these projects. I want to encourage you all to wander throughout the community and observe our magnificent tree specimens. Each one is its own ecological environment and contributes to our sense of peacefulness and well-being. As Diana Berchielli so appreciatively noted, Listen to the birds singyou can hear them everywhere. There arent many communities where you can still hear the birds singing. Take care of the environment you have here.

May 1st
Maintenance Due

May 4th May 5th

Trellises Car Wash Day

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Social Event / Clubhouse 7:30 PM

May 10th / 5:00 p.m.

Maintenance Late Fee

May 12th May 17th May 18th

Mothers Day Bulk Pickup Day Armed Forces Day

May 23rd
Monthly HOA Meeting
Clubhouse 7:30 PM

May 27th
Memorial Day
Garbage & Recycling: TUESDAYS Garbage-Only: FRIDAYS
USE CITY-APPROVED BAGS

Trellises Car Wash Day is Saturday May 4th

Every time you have the opportunity to save water, we hope you will do so. Car Wash Day is Saturday, May 4th. If you would like to have your car washed, please call MY PREMIUM CAR WASH directly at: 786-268-9274. The name of the owner/contact person at MY PREMIUM is Ramiro. When making an appointment, please remind them that you are a resident of The Trellises in Plantation to ensure that the discounted rates are applied.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
William Leslie, President Kathy Gazda, Vice-President Lori Mihalic, Vice-President Ron Schwartz, Treasurer Mary Broussard, Secretary _____________________ Weekly Meetings: Mondays 2:00 PM

Good Vibrations:
Take time this month to consider the little patch of planet Earth that you call home and the community that surrounds it. Think about the people who live near you and silently wish them well. Whether you prefer to call it a pleasant thought, a prayer, or just a moment of peaceful meditation, remember that everyone faces challenges and can benefit from some good vibrations. Kindness is contagious! When you give some, youll receive some. May you have a productive month and may happiness find you in places and faces where you least expect it.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!

Join us in the Clubhouse on Sunday, May 5th at 7:30 pm. Well be chipping and dipping and Margarita-sipping, so dust off your Sombrero and bring an appetizer to share!

Landscaping Increases Property Value

Are you looking for a solid investment? Researching the markets for stocks, bonds, and gold prices? Well, dont forget about Landscaping. Trees and plants add value as soon as theyre planted and their value continues to increase as they mature. Almost everything else depreciates the moment we buy it. However, good landscaping averages $3 return for every $1 spent. Aside from increasing property value, landscaping also improves air quality. A single tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in a year. When properly selected and placed, landscaping can lower cooling and heating costs by as much as 20%. As the real estate market continues to bounce back, its important that communities and homeowners take a close look at their landscaping. Buyers place significant value on landscaping because it enhances a communitys appeal. Homes in communities with good landscaping can be valued as much as 11% higher than in communities with less appealing landscaping. Resale values in well-landscaped communities are also increased by as much as 14%. The Landscaping Committee is working to create a multi-faceted plan to protect our existing plants and enhance our community to give us the edge we need to boost our property values. Many of us bought in this community, in part, because of the beautiful, natural surroundings that provide a calm escape from everyday stress. As time and the elements continue to take their toll, our landscaping has to be protected and enhanced. Professionally maintained landscaping can increase the overall value of the units in our community by about 5%. When the newly planted hedges begin to mature, we can add another 4%, which makes proper irrigation, fertilization and pest management a MUST. If youre thinking about establishing a budget to landscape your unit, experts recommend spending between1% to 5% of the current value of your property. Professionally designed landscaping, using quality materials and standards can yield a return of up to 150% of the cost of the landscaping. Its clear that landscaping plays a major role in increasing value. Therefore, we hope youre encouraged to be a part of our communitys landscaping efforts. If you plan to install plants that require diggin g more than 4 to 6 inches, please get approval from the office in writing to ensure that you dont breach irrigation lines that could result in costly repairs. Statistics provided by the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association and the University of Michigan

"Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders. -Henry David Thoreau
As the Board continues to work toward building and protecting the value of our community, its more important than ever for homeowners to be aware of and active in the growth process. We know that some are not able to attend meetings and events. Therefore, as a new feature of The Trellises newsletter, we will be providing the highlights of the HOA meetings from the previous month, so that everyone can be informed and stay in the loop. Here are the April highlights: Updated bylaw amendments were printed and delivered. Updated Rules and Regs were approved and delivered. Courtyard walkways were acid washed, painted and sealed. The first monthly car wash was a success and numerous residents took advantage of the opportunity to have their cars professionally washed, while helping to save water. A scrumptious meal was enjoyed at the Italian Night social event. Security cameras were approved for the pool, recreation room and clubhouse entrance doors. The ballroom agreement was updated and approved. The employment agreement was approved. The Citys arborist conducted a site visit to provide recommendations for preserving and enhancing our landscaping. The short sale of unit 414 is proceeding, along with 2 other pending sales. The yearly audit was completed and copies are now available by request. The request for updated homeowner contact info was distributed and a revised directory of unit owners is pending. THE TRELLISES ASSOCIATION, INC. 9731 N. NEW RIVER CANAL RD. PLANTATION, FL 33324

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