Posted on: August 10, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
Posted on: July 23, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
Owners Frosty, Mary Kay, Rich, Lori, Patti and Dave ventured out July 18 to plant shrubs to replaced hedges eaten by the viburnum leaf beetle. While the smoke cleared for one day and the temperature had returned to normal, the extra high humidity make work challenging.
In the end the group planted all three planned hedges, for a total of 13 bushes in the ground. In addition to planting the group hauled wagons of heavy soil and bags of compost. Buildings completed were 24, 32 and 44. Owners in each of the buildings have stepped up to water. We thank all waterers for helping.
There are three more former viburnum area hedges to be replanted in buildings 23, 30 north and 30 south. Those are planned for spring 2027. B&G will be determining layout and number and type of bushes between now and then.
Posted on: June 28, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
Posted on: June 13, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
To keep owners informed about B&G-Grounds activity a new Newsletter will be periodically updated on the OLCA Website.
Posted on: June 7, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds, Public Service Announcements
A representative of the US Fish & Wildlife Service expressed unexpected concerns about bird feeders. Feeders share bacteria, spread certain diseases among birds, attract predators, and often end up feeding rodents and scavengers more than birds around homes. So why do many among us love bird feeders? To quote a wildlife expert: “The birds don’t need the feeders. Some people do.” we at Overlook Lakes understand that.
Our Founders gave us rules about bird feeders, rules that make sense to minimize problems for our buildings and residents—and wildlife. Our governing documents are simple and clear on this topic.
Wise and helpful guidance! We’re bringing this up at this time because several feeders we’ve seen are filled with food (e.g., cracked corn, sunflower seed, cheap mixes) that are largely spilled on the ground and attract rodents and small critters. That’s a no-no. Remember, only Niger/Nyjer thistle seed may be used. It’s 100% edible and leaves no mess on the ground. That ultimately leads to all of us enjoying more birds around us.
Posted on: May 21, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
Fertilizers and herbicides our contractor is using in 2026
Each growing season, our lawn maintenance contractor applies a combination of fertilizers and herbicides to our lawn (turf) areas. Often called lawn ‘treatments’, these chemicals keep our grass healthy and green and at the same time eliminate weeds. The chemical composition of these chemicals changes with each application, based on season.
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Posted on: May 9, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
Sanitation workers, teachers, and nurses. These occupations are often listed as overlooked, undervalued, or underpaid – despite their high necessity and impact. Briefly stated, they are essential among us, yet too often ignored or unappreciated.
Here at Overlook Lakes we can add another group to the list: Those who volunteer to water newly planted trees and shrubs. We gratefully acknowledge the volunteers who showed up last week to plant 11 shrubs and 2 trees. We anticipate other new plantings between now and the end of summer that will require watering into November. We are looking for more volunteers to water these shrubs and trees and we’re asking you to seriously consider this.
It’s a relatively simple task, but also a serious commitment because it’s essential to the plants. Currently, Board and Building & Grounds Committee Members are at risk for burnout because watering often doesn’t happen unless they do it. Perhaps you could water 1 or 2 trees, or maybe a new shrub or 2. This will greatly benefit our community. Ideally, a “Watering Committee” might be formed to oversee this vital work among us.
Interested? Want more information? Willing to try? Email the B&G-Grounds Committee, the OLCA Board or leave your name and contact information with Tonia in the Office. You are definitely needed and we will not underappreciate you.
Posted on: May 4, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
To keep owners informed about B&G-Grounds activity a new Newsletter will be periodically updated on the OLCA Website.
Posted on: April 28, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
This schedule shows the number of times each landscaping service is performed per month*.
| Service | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | Totals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Clean-up | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | Sod clumps replace/remove, rake, blow |
| Mowing Turf/Grass Areas | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 24 | – |
| Trim & Shape Bushes/Hedges | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – |
| Turf/Grass Herbicide | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 3 | Keep pets off grass on those days |
| Turf/Grass Fertilization | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 4 | – |
| Curb/Sidewalk Edging | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| De-weeding Of Beds | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | – | 24 | – |
| Fall Clean-up | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | Rake, cut, blow |
| Gypsum Application | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | Prevents grass edge burn from salt |
*Does not include separately contracted items like wood chips/mulch and bed edging. Dates can vary based on weather conditions.
Posted on: April 16, 2026 in: OLCA News Tagged: Buildings & Grounds
You may have noticed circular fences growing around our newly planted trees. And you may have asked yourself, why are those things there?
B&G-Grounds, in consultation with MMSD, has determined that we need to protect young trees from animal damage. Specifically, the fencing keeps deer from eating the leaves and rubbing the trunk, and rodents from eating the bark.
In 2025 we installed trees with no fencing with the hope that our local deer and rabbit population would find more attractive food to eat. They didn’t! Instead these animals zeroed in on our new trees.
As we plant additional trees you will see our B&G volunteers erecting fences soon after the trees are in the ground. We expect to keep fences on trees for several years, until they are large and strong enough to withstand animal nibbling.
B&G-Grounds is also assessing the use of flexible tubes that go over the lower portion of the trunk. These tubes protect trees from rodents and deer rubbing after fencing has been removed.
If you have questions on this initiative, or anything else related to landscaping at Overlook Lakes please email B&G-Grounds.
