The board has approved removal of the three River Birch trees around the waterfall.
The River Birch trees have been a beautiful part of the entrance over the years, but they’ve reached a size that makes them a regular target for pruning by the utility company. They’re unsightly when pruned heavily and the remaining drooping branches obscure the beautiful Japanese Maples, Wax Myrtles, Loropetalums, Dog Woods, and Red Maples in the area.
Removal of the River Birch will open up and brighten up the area around the waterfall. We’ll be able to see more of the other beautiful trees and shrubs. The added light should help improve the quality and vigor of the turf around the waterfall. It may also help to brighten the top of the waterfall, making the Waterfall sign more visible during the day.
The River Birch are a major source of debris that clogs the waterfall. They tend to drop leaves throughout the summer. Removal will help reduce waterfall overflows.
The plan is to remove the trees and then evaluate how the waterfall area looks later this fall. This time will allow the remaining trees and shrubs to adjust to the added light and space. If there is a need to add a few smaller trees, we’ll get estimates to install something that will not reach a height that requires frequent, heavy pruning by the utility company.
The board is in the process of getting estimates to re-sod parts of the entrance where the turf has declined or been damaged. We hope to have the estimates in and work started soon. Sprinkler repairs/adjustments and extreme heat may delay this work. We will provide an update when we know more.
Waterfall 