Landscape Committee

Landscape Committee Meeting

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Chimney Hill Owners Association

CALL TO ORDER

The Committee met at the Chimney Hill Clubhouse. Carol Sewall, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:34. The following Committee members attended: Elaine Ahnell, Roseann Adams, Patty Small and Laura Powers. Barbara Silver, Kathleen Comeau and Sharron Heberlein attended virtually.

MINUTES

The Minutes from the October 26, 2024, meeting were approved.

CURRENT BUSINESS

Carol is working on a list of active and nonactive members, while waiting on a few more replies.

The kiosk bridges should be in place within a few weeks. Maintenance staff is short a couple workers. Laura and Sharron have some washout issues near their kiosks. Carol will put a list together of any issues to submit so Maintenance knows what they need to work on.

There are 11 kiosks. The kiosk Carlotta brought up near the Tennis Courts is not an approved kiosk. If members want to plant there they will not be reimbursed. Possibly anyone looking to weed out perennials will want to move them to this kiosk. Carol is updating her list on who needs topsoil and fertilizer and in what quantity. Elaine recommends replacing both soil and fertilizer each year. Carol reminded members that dumping anything outside/around (including old flowers/pumpkins) your kiosk is not allowed as it results in additional work for Maintenance. Elaine brought up the idea of planting outside/around kiosks which was decided against.

Laura updated the Committee on ‘Bee the Change’. Mike from ‘Bee the Change’ will visit in the next couple of weeks to assess the spots of land that might work for a pollinator garden. Members of the Committee would like to participate in that visit.

There is approval to maintain, but not expand, the Memorial Garden and Beth Nanis will take charge.

We have confirmation that Cheryl maintains the Clubhouse flagpole area.

NEW BUSINESS

We have the support of the Board to focus more on perennials in the kiosks and in particular plants that are pollinators supporting the bee, butterfly, etc., population. A list of recommended plants to attract dragonflies (who consume mosquitoes) was shared. Carol had previously emailed a document on how to make your gardens/yard wildlife habitat certified. Carol was emailing the Committee a Vermont native plant list.

Roseann mentioned that the Audubon Society website has a section on native plants for Vermont. Carol suggested that possibly the property behind her could be changed over to a wildflower area with pollinators which would reduce time the Maintenance team has to spend mowing. There is already a wildflower garden in B Section.

We have an increase in the budget to help support purchases of native plants and speakers. The goal is to eventually reduce the cost of annuals as well as eliminating mums, which don’t always last long after planting, and create educational, colorful and environmentally friendly kiosks for the community while including seasonal items like pumpkins and winter decorations.

Janet Boyd will have annuals available for Committee members. When we visit the farm we need to introduce ourselves for the $4 a pot price she is offering members as well as a discount on perennials. Janet’s cell number was shared with her permission. She does not have Proven Winners which some members have purchased in the past from Jamaica Gardens. Elaine feels strongly that annuals are needed for color. The budget will remain at $60 a kiosk with the hope that members will start to move over to a 50/50 combination of annuals and perennials with cost not being the main objective, but more for conservation efforts and attracting pollinators. Elaine reminded the Committee to pay attention to the first full moon in May before planting as there was a May 18th frost in the past!

Discussion on E-blast articles drew attention to the list Kathleen had on creating a garden to attract dragonflies. More articles on pollinators and native plants would be helpful to share.

The invasive Japanese Knotwood has spread with the flooding as it loves wet areas. The best way to deal with it is to cut the leaves as they grow. Digging causes spreading whereas continually cutting the new growth slows it down. Burning bushes are also invasive. There was discussion on creating a subcommittee that would patrol the area for invasive plants and work to slow or eliminate.

Marjorie Winter is interested in a presentation for Chimney Hill including a topic on how to replace bird feeders in the summer with plants that attract birds. The max we can have at the Clubhouse is 50-60 with Chimney Hill residents only. We would need to advertise in the E-blast. Dates discussed were May 31 or June 1. Carol Bois reached out to Carol and Laura about returning to help support the Committee’s move towards native plants/perennials.

Laura talked about Ellie Roden who does pressed flower art as another possible workshop idea. We need to reach out with an invite to her then work on setting up a workshop with a sign-up sheet so she knows what supplies are needed for the number of attendees, then determine who would pay her- CHOA or attendees.

MEMBER CONCERNS

Carlotta is concerned about the branches down by the pond. The same exists around Barbara’s property. Possibly members can visit these areas after the next meeting and put together a pile in each area that Maintenance can pick up. Barbara will keep us posted on the wanderings of her bear!

NEXT MEETING Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Clubhouse. Discussion on holding the sip and dig will be on the agenda.

ADJOURNMENT was at 10:52

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Comeau

(updated 2018)
Our objective is to ensure that the public areas of the Chimney Hill community are
carefully maintained and, as necessary and feasible, enhanced by shrubs, trees, and
colorful plantings, pleasant to the eye, and an invaluable contribution toward the
increase in property values.
In order to meet this objective, we must:
1) Meet regularly to discuss and address Committee members’ and CHOA members’
specific concerns;
2) Oversee the work of the contracted CHOA Gardener and provide input; assist the
Gardener when feasible to save on costs;
3) Provide education to the Chimney Hill community on
a) How to plant and maintain attractive properties;
b) Appreciation of the wildlife and vegetation on our lands by presenting workshops and nature-oriented events;
c) Update our website with pertinent articles and reference works; contribute comments and advice to the e-newsletter

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