L.A. LOOKS Wildlife Corner Photo & Article By Barbara Ann Comer The Sandhill Crane, the original yearround resident of Lake Ashton, is a species that one cannot overlook. Because the Cranes in Central Florida are non-migratory, residents can enjoy their life cycle. It begins with elaborate courtship displays involving spreading of wings, leaps and loud rattles. Things quiet down when the nest mound is built, usually in a marshy area and two eggs (typically) are laid and incubated by both parents for about a month. Since colts (baby cranes) are precocious, they parade after their parents the day after hatching. The parents feed them a diet of insects and aquatic plants, supplemented with yummy delicacies such as rodents, snails, frogs, lizards and snakes. Feeding Sandhill Cranes is against the law, gives them rickets (causing drooping bills and deformed legs) and makes them aggressive. It's best to just observe their life cycle from a distance, and not interfere. KEEPING YOUR PLANTS THRIVING By Lynn Davis Keeping your plants thriving can be mind boggling in Central Florida, but not impossible. This is the debut of a monthly tip and suggestion article for those wishing to conquer. When you arrived from outside of Florida, especially up North, you quickly learned some things that don’t thrive here. Don’t fret. A great place to start is to choose Native Plants. One of the most tried and true Native is blue daze. Another variety is called blue my mind. This plant is great for low maintenance and instant color. Its showy blue flowers mound and bloom all year-round. It can be pruned back to keep it from getting leggy. I pull it up and clip to make it look natural. It also can be placed in containers and looks wonderful matched with the silvery foliage of dusty millers. One bit of caution! Rabbits seem to love to feast on the newly planted plants. I have had success placing a cage made from chicken wire or spraying a mixture of mouthwash, dish liquid and a splash of water around new plants. Rabbits don’t like the smell but remember to reapply after heavy rain for best results. Blue daze are a great plant to start your Florida garden experience. LA (LW) HOA We still have a board position that needs to be filled and need volunteers to help with the ARC committees. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated - even an hour a week would be welcomed! Contact directors@lakeashtonhoa.org Stay Informed – register today for your HOA account with Stambaugh, our HOA Management Company. To register for online access to your account, visit https:// www.lakeashtonhoa.org. Once registered, you can access your HOA documents, stay informed with email blasts, and see the HOA calendar of upcoming meetings. If you have trouble registering, or have any other questions, please contact Stambaugh at 863-324-5100 or email admin@stambaughinc.com. Please remember that the current websites and remittance information are no longer being used. Check your Bank BillPay and update the payment address to 500 Orchid Springs Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Also, it has come to the attention of the HOA that homeowners are not filing ARC requests for changes to home exteriors. These include stone facades, new coach lights, and roofs. All changes to home exteriors must have ARC approval before work can commence. If a home is not in compliance because of failure to follow ARC guidelines, the homeowner may need to remove the unauthorized features.
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