Breathe in the Beauty

Numerous annual flower beds have been carefully designed and strategically placed for maximum color throughout campus. Strategic building entrances receive four color rotations while the majority of the campus receives summer annuals only. 27 Racks of bedding plants and vines combined with 55 thriller plants from tropical flora to ornamental grasses make up the summer color rotation. About 60 percent of the summer seasonal color requires hand watering and 40 percent is managed with the automated irrigation system. Turf grubs were addresses in 3 phases during the 2021 growing season. The management of weeds and insects were constantly monitored in February of 2021 due to warmer than usual winter temperatures, zero frost line, and massive late snow in February. This last snow insulated the ground during the frigid temperatures and maintained a zero frost line. The worst and longest recorded drought followed for 13 weeks this spring. We constantly monitored this which gave us the information needed and know what to expect with weed and insect infestation. Turf grubs were addressed in 3 phases during the 2021 growing season. A large quantity of active grubs were identified on campus late March. A product was applied to reduce the summer population. Japanese Beetles showed up early and proper IPM (Integrated Pest Management) procedures were followed. We applied a safe product on trees, shrubs, roses, and perennials only where and when the beetles were detected. With the previous year and early 2021 infestation, a preventative grub treatment was applied to all turf on campus. A plant “orphanage” garden was elegantly crafted in the heart of campus for plants displaced when new residents prefer a different plant palette for their personal space. This holding garden is a thriving space of various color, texture and plant types. Residents have donated seedling evergreens received on Earth Day from their local bank that started smaller than a 12 inch ruler are now 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Some plants are nurtured in this garden until they are needed as replacement plants in other common areas or a new resident request can be procured from this holding location. The beds lines in this garden are very curvy and provide a wandering turf walking path for residents to enjoy the diverse flora. We are proud to say the resident landscape rating has continued to rise each of the 5 years we have managed the landscaping at this faciliity. One quote from the resident survey shared with us from administration reads, “The campus has not looked this good in years!” Development of protocols and standards of quality were the building blocks for this residential commercial landscape management program. With attention to detail, and proper horticultural standards, our operations teams manage the Covenant Living of Northbrook campus as a regionally important landscape environment.