Thoughts of Spring!!!

by Alice Salmans, Chairman of the Clubhouse Landscaping Committee

Just picture a hillside bursting with the color of daffodils and hyacinths! Come spring at the Yankee Lake Road side of the clubhouse, this picture will become a reality.

Cathy Dawkins and I have just finished planting 100 King Alfred daffodils (giant yellow trumpets), 100 mixed variety daffodils, and 100 Wood Hyacinths (white, pink, and purple). Along with the variety of blooming ground covers, our corner will be something to smile at. A picture of this display will be entered in the Sullivan Renaissance flower display competition. Who knows? Maybe we will win and get more grant funds for more flowers!!

I hope you have been enjoying your rain garden and the new trees and shrubs planted along North Shore Drive. Thanks to the Sullivan Renaissance grant funds this year, as well as your support and donations, we have been able to continue to make incremental improvements to the clubhouse property.

Next year we are taking a big step and entering one of the competitive categories in the Sullivan Renaissance Grant Programs, which may involve two landscape/hardscape elements: a flagpole and a patio area. I welcome volunteers to help put together the grant application, which includes the design of the elements, as well as support to implement the plan in the spring.

If you are interested, please contact me by clicking this link, or call 845-888-5777.

A Rain Garden at the YLPA Clubhouse

by Alice Salmans

An environmental grant of $500 has been awarded to the YLPA to build a rain garden to help with the erosion that we are experiencing at the top of North Shore Drive. Information on how to build a rain garden can be found at this link, but you can follow along with our plan as we build our own. A pictorial progression along with our plan follows. If you have any questions, please call Alice Salmans at 888-5777 or click this link to send me your questions.

The “Before”

Lower Level Terracing

Lay Out Walkway, Define Parking Area

Laying Stone for the Walkway

Clubhouse Landscaping

by Alice Salmans

With the exception of the meeting room addition, our Clubhouse has looked more or less the same as long as I can remember (close to 60 some odd years!). It has had fences, had entrances added, been painted, and been maintained to the best that this community can afford. And now we are addressing the ‘green’ element.

As chairman of the landscape committee, I put together a plan that was designed to address the visual and functional elements of the clubhouse with landscaping. Through the generosity of our YLPA members, funds, plants, and time, were donated in 2009 to add aesthetic value as well as addressing water run-off concerns. We have received many positive comments regarding these initial plans and are encouraged to proceed as donations allow.

I thought you might be interested in the entire plan to not only continue to fund it, but to provide me with your own thoughts and ideas. The objectives of the plan include a landscape that, once established, does not require major care; consistent with native plants, resistant to deer, while meeting the functional requirements intended for activities held at the clubhouse.

The Yankee Lake Road side of the club- house is basically completed with ter-racing, plantings of Moonglow Junipers, rhododendron, Bluechip Junipers, Ruby Barberry, and Mountain Laurel, along with different ground covers. European White Birch seedlings and Japanese Maple are also included although still too small to make a showing.

The perimeter of the playroom has also been lined with rhododendrons and spirea which go a long way to hide an unattractive foundation and storage area. A pair of Pyramidal Boxwood adorns the information bulletin board in front of the clubhouse.

Highlights of the site plan evolve as requirements change or new input is received, but my current plan of record is summarized as follows:

Patio / Walkways: This is the site where we set up for our annual BBQ. It is uneven and a challenge to get equipment into position and ready for use. A level walk from storage to set up as well as a level area upon which to place equipment and serving tables would make it easier for our volunteers who run the BBQ and other social events.

Terraced Edge: This area along North Shore Drive washes out during heavy rains as well as being unsightly. The roadside nearer the clubhouse is also damaged by cars parking on the property and tearing up the turf. The terracing would be set off by either, large rocks, or railroad ties, rock being preferred. Plantings would consist of grasses, herbs and possibly crabapple trees.

Memory Lane: This area borders the rear of the site as you view it from North Shore Drive. Not seen in the photo is the shear drop off ending the level grassy area. A border of evergreens would keep the edge from eroding, provide a wind break for events on the field, as well as providing a ‘green fence’ for safety. Trees may be planted in memory of a loved one that you would like remembered.

A plan to complete the site plantings will be furnished as these problem areas are addressed. I hope that you will continue to support these efforts through your generous donations. Comments and suggestions are always helpful and of course, strong backs and shovels are always welcome! Please feel free to email me by clicking this link.

	Yankee Lake Preservation Association, Inc • Post Office Box 558 • Wurtsboro, New York 12790 • (845) 888-0474

Yankee Lake Home Owner's Guide Annual Dues Rules and Regulations By-Laws of the YLPA Private Docks About Yankee Lake Location History Origins The Pine Kill Club The Smithems News Article from 1912 Native Plants Native Animals Invasive Species Schedule of Events Lake Preservation Lake Management Woodland Management Dam Management Water Quality Monitoring Invasive Plants How You Can Help Projects Clubhouse Landscaping Fish Stocking Program Children and Teens Programs About YLPA Mission Statement Board of Directors List of Members Gallery 2011 in Pictures 2010 in Pictures 2009 in Pictures Halloween Party Donations Rent the Clubhouse Shop YLPA Local Advertisers Links FAQ Contact Us		Thoughts of Spring!!! by Alice Salmans, Chairman of the Clubhouse Landscaping Committee Just picture a hillside bursting with the color of daffodils and hyacinths! Come spring at the Yankee Lake Road side of the clubhouse, this picture will become a reality. Cathy Dawkins and I have just finished planting 100 King Alfred daffodils (giant yellow trumpets), 100 mixed variety daffodils, and 100 Wood Hyacinths (white, pink, and purple). Along with the variety of blooming ground covers, our corner will be something to smile at. A picture of this display will be entered in the Sullivan Renaissance flower display competition. Who knows? Maybe we will win and get more grant funds for more flowers!! I hope you have been enjoying your rain garden and the new trees and shrubs planted along North Shore Drive. Thanks to the Sullivan Renaissance grant funds this year, as well as your support and donations, we have been able to continue to make incremental improvements to the clubhouse property. Next year we are taking a big step and entering one of the competitive categories in the Sullivan Renaissance Grant Programs, which may involve two landscape/hardscape elements: a flagpole and a patio area. I welcome volunteers to help put together the grant application, which includes the design of the elements, as well as support to implement the plan in the spring. If you are interested, please contact me by clicking this link, or call 845-888-5777. A Rain Garden at the YLPA Clubhouse by Alice Salmans An environmental grant of $500 has been awarded to the YLPA to build a rain garden to help with the erosion that we are experiencing at the top of North Shore Drive. Information on how to build a rain garden can be found at this link, but you can follow along with our plan as we build our own. A pictorial progression along with our plan follows. If you have any questions, please call Alice Salmans at 888-5777 or click this link to send me your questions. The “Before” Lower Level Terracing Lay Out Walkway, Define Parking Area Laying Stone for the Walkway Clubhouse Landscaping by Alice Salmans With the exception of the meeting room addition, our Clubhouse has looked more or less the same as long as I can remember (close to 60 some odd years!). It has had fences, had entrances added, been painted, and been maintained to the best that this community can afford. And now we are addressing the ‘green’ element. As chairman of the landscape committee, I put together a plan that was designed to address the visual and functional elements of the clubhouse with landscaping. Through the generosity of our YLPA members, funds, plants, and time, were donated in 2009 to add aesthetic value as well as addressing water run-off concerns. We have received many positive comments regarding these initial plans and are encouraged to proceed as donations allow. I thought you might be interested in the entire plan to not only continue to fund it, but to provide me with your own thoughts and ideas. The objectives of the plan include a landscape that, once established, does not require major care; consistent with native plants, resistant to deer, while meeting the functional requirements intended for activities held at the clubhouse. The Yankee Lake Road side of the club- house is basically completed with ter-racing, plantings of Moonglow Junipers, rhododendron, Bluechip Junipers, Ruby Barberry, and Mountain Laurel, along with different ground covers. European White Birch seedlings and Japanese Maple are also included although still too small to make a showing. The perimeter of the playroom has also been lined with rhododendrons and spirea which go a long way to hide an unattractive foundation and storage area. A pair of Pyramidal Boxwood adorns the information bulletin board in front of the clubhouse. Highlights of the site plan evolve as requirements change or new input is received, but my current plan of record is summarized as follows: Patio / Walkways: This is the site where we set up for our annual BBQ. It is uneven and a challenge to get equipment into position and ready for use. A level walk from storage to set up as well as a level area upon which to place equipment and serving tables would make it easier for our volunteers who run the BBQ and other social events. Terraced Edge: This area along North Shore Drive washes out during heavy rains as well as being unsightly. The roadside nearer the clubhouse is also damaged by cars parking on the property and tearing up the turf. The terracing would be set off by either, large rocks, or railroad ties, rock being preferred. Plantings would consist of grasses, herbs and possibly crabapple trees. Memory Lane: This area borders the rear of the site as you view it from North Shore Drive. Not seen in the photo is the shear drop off ending the level grassy area. A border of evergreens would keep the edge from eroding, provide a wind break for events on the field, as well as providing a ‘green fence’ for safety. Trees may be planted in memory of a loved one that you would like remembered. A plan to complete the site plantings will be furnished as these problem areas are addressed. I hope that you will continue to support these efforts through your generous donations. Comments and suggestions are always helpful and of course, strong backs and shovels are always welcome! Please feel free to email me by clicking this link.