Articles
Feb 13
Committee Update
Typically the dormant season is not very busy for landscaping, but he VOWS LGC Committee and Brickman’s has been extremely busy around the community. I am sure you have been able to see the bed improvements taking place all over VOWS. The beds are looking fantastic and will continue to improve as the warmer weather arrives. Spring and summer color will be going in soon and we look forward to much greener grass than we have seen in previous seasons due to proper fertilization, weed control and ongoing irrigation maintenance.
The irrigation system has undergone an extensive review by Brickman’s since they came on board in October and as a result they have submitted three recommendations for improvement to the current system. These improvements will help conserve water, improve the design and watering patterns in certain areas. The LGC has asked Brickman’s to provide individual quotes for each recommendation along with a priority level to assist with budgeting and planning. Once this is received the LGC will review and decided on recommendations to present to the Advisory Committee.
Brickman’s has been instrumental in the positive changes taking place in our communities appearance, so if you see a Brickman’s truck around your village give a wave or say “Hi”, because they are doing an outstanding job. The LG Committee meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM, locations will vary until the amenity center is complete. You can contact us via the official website or by submitting an email to vows.landscape@yahoo.com.
February 13, 2008
Jan 02
Committee Update
As the beginning of 2008 begins to take off, the VOWS Landscape Committee has already started the process of kicking off the year with a round of landscape improvements! This round of improvements was approved in late December 2007 by the AC and HOA Board with the remaining 2007 landscape funds. The main focus will be to remove all monkey grass in the beds, update a lot of the overgrown beds off Woodland Springs and Coffeetree, and fill in sparse beds along Bray Birch and Timberland. The improvements will take place over January and February.
In other exciting news, Jim Houston on the LGC has worked diligently with the City of Fort Worth on the free tree program over the last few months and we are proud to announce that VOWS has been approved to receive approximately 100 trees! Our community came up 12th on the list and will likely be receiving trees this month. The trees will be planted along the parkway on Bray Birch and will consist of a variety of native trees about 12’ tall weighing 200-300 lbs each. In addition, the developer has offered to pay $5,000 towards the transportation and planting costs. The LGC decided to have the trees planted in phases over the next few years to ensure the trees will survive in this area and to remain within the allocation provided by the developer.
In the coming months the LGC will be monitoring the improvements, coordinating the installation of the new trees and working with Brickman to select spring color.
The LGC has been receiving questions via the website and hopefully has been able to provide the answers and/or solutions you are looking for. We encourage everyone to continue to visit the website and submit any landscape questions or ideas you would like the committee to review. The LG Committee meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM, locations will vary until the amenity center is complete. You can contact us via the official website or by submitting an email to vows.landscape@yahoo.com.
January 2, 2008
Dec 09
Yard of the Month November Winner
Congratulations to Lisa and Tim Gregory, resident of 2940 Hollow Valley Drive! Lisa and Tim are the winners of The Villages of Woodland Springs Yard of the Month for November 2007. They will receive a $50 gift card to Calloways Nursery and placement of the Yard of the Month sign in their yard:
The Yard of the Month contest is coordinated by the Landscape and Grounds Committee. The Committee accepts nominations via email or website, then selects the winner at the monthly Committee meeting. The Committee encourages everyone to nominate their own home or their neighbor's to recognize a well-maintained or beautiful landscape. Plus,who couldn't use $50 to buy plants or landscaping materials? There are many beautiful yards all around the community, so please email your favorite (and a picture if possible) to VOWSYOM@yahoo.com or submit your suggestion through the website.
December 9, 2007
Dec 08
Committee Update
As the last month of the year draws to a close, the LG Committee is still hard at work, trying to get two last projects pulled together before the end of December. First, the committee is awaiting a response from the City of Fort Worth on the free tree program that we applied for at the beginning of November. As it turns out planting a large number of trees in our North Texas clay soil and around our irrigation system is going to take more than volunteers with shovels. Therefore, the committee has requested developer funding to get the trees planted and we have been approved for $5,000. The remaining project is a second round of bed improvements to fill in sparse beds and replace dying shrubs. At this time we are waiting on Advisory Committee and HOA Board approval for this project.
This year has been productive for a committee that has only been organized since mid-summer and is now 7 members strong. In 2007 the LG Committee has assisted with the following projects: finding a new landscape contractor, fall color selection, bed improvements, mitigation area research, Christmas decorations, and applied for the City of Fort Worth Free Program.
Next year the LG Committee’s budget is very tight and there will not be many improvements taking place, however there will be spring and fall color changes in the beds. The LG Committee will spend most of the year planning and researching various projects for 2009.
We would like to encourage everyone to submit any landscape questions or ideas you would like the committee to review. The LG Committee meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30, locations will vary until the amenity center is complete.
December 11, 2007
Nov 29
Yard of the Month October Winner
Congratulations to the residents of 12116 Toffee Street, the winner of the VOWS Yard of the Month for October 2007. The theme for October was scariest Halloween decorations. The residents at 12116 Toffee Street will received a $50 Gift Card to Calloway's Nursery and placement of the Yard of the Month sign in their yard until next month.
The Yard of the Month is now part of the Landscape and Grounds Committee, and the process will remain the same. However, the LG Committee will vote as a group on the nominations submitted to select a winner for each month.
We would like to encourage everyone to nominate their own home or their neighbor’s to recognize a well-maintained or beautiful landscape, plus who couldn't use $50 to buy some plants or landscape materials! There are many beautiful yards all around the community, so please email your favorite to VOWS_YOM @yahoo.com. Nominations for November are now being accepted and are due by November 30.
November 29, 2007
Nov 13
Free Trees for our Community
By Jim Houston – VOWS Landscape and Grounds Committee
Hi Neighbors! Your hard working VOWS Landscape Committee, in an effort to make our neighborhood greener, is applying to the City of Fort Worth Tree Grant program to obtain 100 free trees for our neighborhood.
Rolling Hills Nursery, a tree farm which is owned and operated by the City of Fort Worth and created specifically for this purpose, will supply these trees at no cost to us as long as the trees are ensured they will receive a loving home.
The program awards trees to communities based on their eligibility score. The scores are tabulated by adding up points based on answers given on the application which we submitted on November 1, 2007. The trees are normally available during the tree planting season which runs from November to mid-March, and we will have some advanced notice if we are receiving any trees.
Our chances of winning free trees are excellent due to several factors such as the presence of our irrigation system, water supplied by our own community wells, and the fertilization/maintenance program provided by our onsite landscape company, Brickman.
The trees will be in burlaped balls and will need to be transported from the tree farm to VOWS and then planted along the parkways. VOWS volunteers are VERY crucial in this process and are needed to assist in this project. Volunteers are needed to assist with getting the trees to VOWS and then in planting the trees appropriately. The ultimate goal is to spend little to no money in accomplishing this; however, we may need to pay to have the trees planted considering our irrigation system and clay soil. The LG Committee is currently in the process of researching several options, but will need volunteers ready to do either.
Bray Birch Drive, which runs east and west between Alta Vista and Park Vista, will be the first street selected for these trees. The lack of shade along the sidewalks in the summer is very noticeable, and a tree-lined entry street from the west will provide an inviting welcome home to residents, protection from the sun for children walking home from school, and another beautiful, tree-lined street in VOWS.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for this project, please contact vows.landscape@gmail.com. To obtain more info visit the CFW Free Tree Program.
November 13, 2007
Nov 12
Committee Update
The LG Committee has spent the last 60 days assisting in making some major behind the scenes landscape changes that will hopefully begin to be visible to everyone in the community. The changes took a little longer than expected, but now we look forward to watching the impact they will have on the VOWS landscape. First and most importantly, we are proud to announce our new contracted landscape company, Brinkman’s. The LG Committee is very excited to have Brinkman’s on board at VOWS, and we are confident that we can all look forward to a more beautiful VOWS in the year to come.
Brinkman’s first day on property was October 28, and they began with a mowing of the entire property, winterization of the turf, addition of fall color, and will follow up with some shrub pruning. By the time this article is published, you should see various colors of pansies planted at every village entrance. The pansies will be planted on the side of your village entrance that list the village name; however, if you do not see pansies, it is likely that your village entrance has not been released to the HOA for maintenance at this time and is still under the supervision of the builder or developer. The LG Committee selected this particular location to contain the costs of installing color and at the same time allow all residents to have some color at their village.
The LG Committee is focused on making sure everyone can see the landscape portion of their dues in action and in places where all residents can see it. One should not have to live near a main entrance to enjoy color. As the month progresses, you will notice some landscape improvements in beds along Keller Hicks and Alta Vista, two of our most heavily traveled roads. The LG Committee’s goal in selecting these roads for improvements first is to present a well-landscaped community to residents, visitors, and those who pass by. During the upcoming fall months, the LG Committee will begin to research various projects and areas for improvements, and we will continue to strive to make VOWS a premier community in North Fort Worth.
As always, the LG Committee welcomes new members to join as there are usually more projects than people, and there is always room for new ideas. If you are interested in joining the LG Committee, our meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm; the location will vary until the new Amenity Center is complete. You can now contact us via the new official HOA website or by submitting an email to vows.landscape@gmail.com.
November 12, 2007
