Summer is finally here!
Well, it looked like we were going to have Spring forever, with the frequent showers, some hail (not nearly as much this year as in other parts of town), and the unseasonably mild temperatures. However, summer arrived with emphasis in the middle of July!
If you haven't already done so, now would be a good time to check your sprinkler system (if you have one!) Colorado Springs Utilities recommends watering three times a week until early September when you should reset to twice a week. Remember that it is best to water in the early morning hours for a number of reasons: watering in the morning keeps the turf cooler during the hot parts of the day, which means less stress on the grass; your water has a chance to be absorbed or percolate while the ground is cooler, thus losing less to evaporation; truly excess water will have a chance to evaporate as the day warms, thus avoiding mold at ground level; and, you are much less likely to have water blow away to other areas as we rarely have early morning winds. Another benefit that many of us recognize from early morning watering...you will be able to water for shorter periods and get the same results, thereby reducing your consumption (and your water bill!)
Whether your yard is a "natural" landscape or "manicured," this is a great time to spruce it up in case you (or a neighbor) want to submit a flattering photo for our 2019 Best Curb Appeal contest. Remember, one property in each category will recognized at this year's Annual Meeting, and each be awarded $100 Lowes gift certificates and a plaque suitable for display on their mailbox structures.
Finally, if you missed our first Firewise Chipping Week, we have another one coming up from 26-30 August. This is a great time to catch up on your pruning and trim up your low-hanging branches. In fact, now that everything has leafed (or "needled") out and branches are hanging low with leaves and pine cones over the sidewalks, this is the perfect time to trim them up to at least six feet in consideration of our neighbors who use them. It would also be a great time to trim back the new growth on shrubs (particularly junipers!) that extend out over our sidewalks and thus obstruct clear passage. City Ordinance 3.4.103 requires "Every owner and occupant of real property within the City shall keep the public sidewalks which abut or are adjacent to their real property, or public sidewalks located upon real property subject to a public easement or right of way, in a clean condition free from projections and obstructions across the surface, debris, litter, or dangerous conditions not involving the structural integrity of the sidewalk." Unfortunately, we are getting enough complaints that this will become a point of emphasis when we conduct our fall property survey.
Now is the perfect time to put in a little effort to keep Discovery a beautiful, desirable community, before the summer heat REALLY sets in.
We are aware of the presence of a few storage sheds in Discovery. Some were approved…and some “magically appeared.”
No further violations of ARC Approval will be permitted. Any future sheds discovered to have been constructed without ARC approval will be subject to relocation or removal at the owner's expense. Please review the information on sheds in our
FAQ area before you decide if you need a shed in your yard.
Your Spring 2019 Newsletter is now available in the Documents area. We hope you find it both interesting and useful.