In the Winter of 2023, the Landscape Committee began working to revitalize our most unsightly internal islands, all the while being good stewards of our landscape dollars. Invasive plants were removed, the nutrient deficient soil was amended, and native selections were installed by Native Plants Matter.  The goals of these islands are to require less water and maintenance long term, and to also provide food, shelter and habitat for our pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

To ensure the health and maintenance of these plantings, our regular contractors were instructed to not spray herbicides on these islands. During the recent fall maintenance by Native Plants Matter, it was determined that repeated spraying has killed or significantly stressed many of our plants in these islands. Our regular contractor will be assisting us financially and working to better educate their ground crew to correct these errors.

 Please bear with us while we both replant and add new plants this fall, and continue to monitor the health of the remaining damaged plants, many of which will return in the spring. Our Landscape Committee and the team at Native Plants Matter are saddened by the less than desirable aesthetics of some of our strategically designed islands, and we hope that you will give us, and the plants, time to show their true colors! 

 A few of our plants need replacing not due to accidental herbicidal spray, but due to dog urine burn.  Please be respectful of the work and costs of our Lochmere landscape.  Keep your dogs off the plantings in the islands, the gazebo, the medians.... and thank you for picking up their poop and depositing the bags in appropriate trash receptacles that are throughout our sidewalk and trail areas rather than behind shrubbery that someone else then must pick up.

Loch Lomond Gazebo New Plant Installation:

As a contrast, if you have not yet had the opportunity, please walk by the new plant installation at Loch Lomond’s gazebo.

Here you will see our young plants beginning to thrive. 

Additional Island Rejuvenations:

 Two additional islands have been selected for rejuvenation this winter. Lochwood West (across from the HOA office entrance) and Gearrland Lane (on Loch Highlands Drive) will both have old plant material removed, soil amendments added, and new plants added  in the coming months.

 Empty Islands Update:

 The empty islands where overgrown Chinese Hollies were removed earlier this year will be replanted in November/December with low maintenance, drought tolerant, and size appropriate species. Stay tuned for more information on this, including the opportunity for resident input.

 Annual Plantings:

 Annual flowers have been approved and Ruppert will be planting these very shortly. Much attention during the design process has been given to soil health and watering requirements, so as to maintain the visual appeal of these annual plantings through the fall and winter. 

 Don't forget if you have any questions, concerns, ideas or want to be involved with landscaping in Lochmere, please contact the Landscape Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.