Prepared by:
Catrin
Dubois
Landscape
Superintendent
The native areas behind the Sun City homes are scheduled to
receive mowing 2-3 times a year depending on growth and the seeding of the wild
flowers.
This year Mother Nature has decided to add a couple of cold
fronts to the Spring mix. What does this mean to our native areas and the mow
schedule? Cooler weather will delay the wild flowers. To ensure flowers for
the coming years we have to wait until they have had a chance to bloom and go to
seed so the timing of the mowings is critical
You have noticed the Bluebonnets and other wild flowers
blooming along the highways and native areas. There are numerous flowers that
have budded and are about to show their colors.
A couple examples are the Mexican hats, the Cardinal flowers,
Cosmos, Indian Blankets, Fire wheels and many others are yet to be seen. Our
goal every year is to preserve our wild flower meadows and native grasses that
aid in erosion control and wild life habitat while maintaining a fuel brake
behind the homes. Right now all native vegetation is green and lush which means
it does not carry any fuel content in case of a grass fire in our community. CA
staff works closely with the Firewise group to identify fuel load and when to
schedule the cutting of the 10’-30’ fuelbrakes.
The cutting of the native areas is solely allocated to reduce
of fuel load not aesthetics, weed, varmint or reptile control. Should you
decide to mow an additional 5’ strip behind your lot line it would be acceptable
at this time. You will receive advance notice through the CA Communicator when
the mowers will be on site this year. Right now we anticipate June or July.
