The four street entrances at Watergate have been re-designed and updated to serve as grand gateways with lush flowers, trees, vines, ground cover and drought resistant plants framed by a new wrought iron picket fence.
New Fence and Landscaping
Our New Powell Street Landscaping Submitted by Landscape Chair Sam Foushee The new landscaping along Powell Street, which was planted in May, isbeginning to show what it will eventually be. There are blooms on some of the vines on the fences, and there is new growth on the shrubs behind the fences. The landscaping on either sides of the entrances is showing color and variety, as designed. This is a good time for a reminder about the thinking that went into the overall design and plant choices. Water Usage: This is a low-water landscape. We chose water-conserving plants and installed a water-efficient drip irrigation system. Color, Variety and Habitat: We chose a palate of plants that would provide bloom for most of the year, adding interest and variety. The plants are all perennials, which means they will require some pruning and dead flower removal but won’t have to be replanted. Most of the plant selections are either California natives or Mediterranean plants and have high value for attracting birds, bees and butterflies. Privacy Screening and Views: In order to protect the privacy of residents, especially those living on the ground floors of B and D buildings, we planted vines on the fences and shrubs that can grow to fence-height. To protect views for other residents, we will have the flexibility to prune the landscaping as appropriate to maximize water views. Our new landscaping is something we can all be proud of. It will only get more beautiful as it grows and as we make refinements during the process. And it will conserve water in a time of drought and provide some sorely needed habitat for our native birds and insects. The end result will be worth the wait.
Image:
Units at the end caps of "D" and "B" buildings and the pools facing Powell will be viewing a colorful thick vine hedge when the vines are fully mature. Please see plant growth matrix for all plant pictures and projected growth rates.
