Well, it finally begins! We begin installation this spring and I am so excited! This project has been my baby for a year now. I know the design will morph and change as we go along. Design is a fluid art. But I am staying involved to ensure the heart and soul of the project stays completely in tact.
The Bird Sanctuary started as an idea by The Pinery HOA. They want to use this 8.5 acre piece of land for something big. The plan? To make it a place for not only birds, but also bees, butterflies, other native critters and the residents. This will be a place to reconnect with the area's historical past, a place to educate, and a place for all to enjoy.
The Bird Sanctuary started as an idea by The Pinery HOA. They want to use this 8.5 acre piece of land for something big. The plan? To make it a place for not only birds, but also bees, butterflies, other native critters and the residents. This will be a place to reconnect with the area's historical past, a place to educate, and a place for all to enjoy.
The Plan:
Attract native birds - provide habitat, food, water and nesting supplies
Attract native and migratory butterflies - provide habitat, food, water, minerals, and a wind break
Attract native bees - provide habitat, nectar source, mud, education
Attract and house native bats and provide education
Provide trails and shelter for people
Education - provide historical information
Provide meeting places for boy scout and girl scout troops
Bring the community together
Attract native birds - provide habitat, food, water and nesting supplies
Attract native and migratory butterflies - provide habitat, food, water, minerals, and a wind break
Attract native bees - provide habitat, nectar source, mud, education
Attract and house native bats and provide education
Provide trails and shelter for people
Education - provide historical information
Provide meeting places for boy scout and girl scout troops
Bring the community together
So, the first phase, spring-summer 2010, will be Lookout Point, Pinion Peak Meadow, the History Center, and the trails associated with these areas.
Lookout Point will have a pergola shelter with benches for residents and visitors to sit and enjoy the view of almost the entire front range. There will be carefully placed trees to shade this area but not block the incredible view. A boulder will sit in the middle of the space with an inscription describing the history of the mountain range and how it was formed. The pergola will in time be covered by a flowering vine that will soften the hard lines and give a bit of color and shade. This Trumpet vine is very aggressive (not invasive) and is loved by hummingbirds and people alike.
Pinion Peak Meadow is an open area behind Lookout point that will have deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, boulders and fallen logs. The fallen logs will act as seating and are also important for the bees. Some bees will drill a hole in a fallen log, insert their young and some food and pack the hole with mud. It is an important part of the ecosystem.
The trails will be crushed granite to keep the natural path look for the area.
Pinion Peak Meadow is an open area behind Lookout point that will have deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, boulders and fallen logs. The fallen logs will act as seating and are also important for the bees. Some bees will drill a hole in a fallen log, insert their young and some food and pack the hole with mud. It is an important part of the ecosystem.
The trails will be crushed granite to keep the natural path look for the area.
Challenges so far:
This property has no electricity currently and the HOA has no plans to include it. So adding the irrigation system is challenging and a solution must be found to otherwise run the system.
Under parts of the property lies some asphalt. It is not known why it is there, who put it there, what it was for, how deep it goes, and what area it covers. We are currently searching the Douglas County archives to see if there was a previous plan submitted for this area that might give us some information.
This property has no electricity currently and the HOA has no plans to include it. So adding the irrigation system is challenging and a solution must be found to otherwise run the system.
Under parts of the property lies some asphalt. It is not known why it is there, who put it there, what it was for, how deep it goes, and what area it covers. We are currently searching the Douglas County archives to see if there was a previous plan submitted for this area that might give us some information.
Phase one is a go and we will be having a ground breaking ceremony on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2010.
Thanks for following along! If there is anything you specifically would like to know about regarding landscape design or feng shui let me know!
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