Hello, neighbors!

We wanted to share a quick update on what the Landscape Committee has been working on to keep our neighborhood looking its best and to help our landscape thrive through the seasons.

At our September 21 meeting, the committee discussed a variety of ongoing maintenance items and upcoming projects, including:

Giving Our Hollies a Little Attention

One of the main topics discussed was the pruning and limbing-up of the holly trees in our medians, along with several overgrown corners throughout all of Lochmere.  .

The committee voted to move forward with this work, following the pruning recommendations provided by one of our arborist tree  contractors—particularly their guidance for properly pruning hollies. The goal is to improve the appearance and structure of these plants while keeping them healthy and allowing the landscape to look more open and well maintained.

🐝 Celebrating Our Native Plants

We also wanted to share a great example of what native planting can do for our neighborhood! By providing food and habitat for pollinators, native plants play an important role in supporting a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

Native Plants Matter recently shared a video showcasing the successful results of native planting right here in our community. It’s a great example of how thoughtful planting choices can make a meaningful difference.

For more information about native planting projects in Lochmere—including ideas and suggestions for incorporating native plants into your own landscape—visit the Lochmere Landscape Committee website.

Lochside bees 2026-06-10.MOV - Google Drive

🍂 Leave the Leaves!

Fall has finally arrived this November  and those beautiful leaves are  coming down. Our HOA landscapers are blowing leaves from some common spaces to tree beds and shrub beds to serve as natural mulch and nutrition.  We also wanted to share some information about the benefits of “leaving the leaves.” (Leave the Leaves - Homegrown National Park )

Leaves are more than just something to rake up—they provide habitat and food for insects, support pollinators and other wildlife, return nutrients to the soil, and contribute to a healthier ecosystem.  So, before we rush to clear every leaf, consider letting nature do some of the work! We request that homeowners and their personal yard contractors NOT blow leaves into islands or medians.  The TOC will be coming through your neighborhood soon to pick up the leaves on the side of the curbs.  TOC will not take the extra leaves blown or dumped into the islands or common spaces.  

While leaves being left in natural areas is beneficial to our soil, we fully expect our landscape contractor to remove and/or address significant fallen sticks and limbs. If you note any problematic spots, please feel free to report this to our HOA Manager, Andy. We are asking our landscape contractor to more regularly service our internal islands. 

We’ll continue to keep everyone updated as these projects move forward. Thank you for helping us care for and improve the landscape we all share! 

Landscape Committee Volunteers

The Landscape Committee is always open to residents interested in getting involved and supporting our landscape efforts. The Committee meets in-person monthly (3rd Monday of the month @ 6:30 pm), with some additional activities and area observations occurring between meetings. If you are interested, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..