December is here and almost gone! We have seen a beautiful fall in our forested Lochmere home. Did you know that a representative from NC Forest Service was talking with an attendee at Cary's Harvest Fest on Nov 15th and said that Lochmere was a positive example of good tree stewardship for best practices with tree care! Go Lochmere!

Weight reduction pruning on trees along Loch Highlands Drive was done the week of December 1.

To those of you have asked: Yes, we are keeping our HOA leaves.  Our ground crews are trying to blow our fallen leaves into the mulch circles under the trees where they have fallen.  If the leaf coverage over the grass is light, they will mulch in place.  Thank you for NOT dumping your leaves onto nearby medians or HOA common spaces.  The TOC will not necessarily pick them up. Leaving these leaves under their trees will curious the soil in which these trees grow as the compost.

Please note that we have 14 planted medians including 6 completely newly designed and planted medians where Holly trees and scrub shrubs were removed.  ***please, if any of you live near these islands, consider "adopting" an island---let us know and we can discuss how to help keep them weeded and watered as needed.  

We also have now a total of nine entrance medians planted for the fall/winter by Ruppert, our landscape company.  Some of these are irrigated and some are not.  Give them time to grow and show their beauty. Some of these plants are perennial and will last many years.

Neighbors and friends, please do NOT allow your pets to pee or poop in our medians as you walk by!  This burns the plants, necessitates replanting and is a waste of your money!

This is a wonderful time of year to plant in the NC piedmont area.  We will be posting for your view, suggested plantings for your property.  If you are hoping to plant shrubs or trees to screen orenhance your property, please look under our Landscape page for NON-invasive and perhaps native plants.  

Spring Plantings:

As many of us will begin planning for spring planting soon after the holidays, the Landscape Committee would like to bring to your attention the growing list of invasive, non-native plants in our area. These plants are ones that have been introduced to our region and replace our native species. (Examples are English ivy, privet, multiflora rose, Bradford pear, and Asian wisterias.) As our wildlife is reliant on native plants for food and shelter, it’s important that we take time to consider what we plant and the potential impact on our ecosystem. If we all take a moment to review the invasive plant list before choosing new plants for our gardens, it will go a long way to reducing the unintentional spreading of invasive plants! Here’s a great resource from the NC Native Plant Society https://ncwildflower.org/invasive-exotic-species-list/. For additional resources, take a look at Lochmere’s Native Plant Recommendations Guide.

In the Winter of 2023, the Landscape Committee began working to revitalize our most unsightly internal islands, all the while being good stewards of our landscape dollars. Invasive plants were removed, the nutrient deficient soil was amended, and native selections were installed by Native Plants Matter.  The goals of these islands are to require less water and maintenance long term, and to also provide food, shelter and habitat for our pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

To ensure the health and maintenance of these plantings, our regular contractors were instructed to not spray herbicides on these islands. During the recent fall maintenance by Native Plants Matter, it was determined that repeated spraying has killed or significantly stressed many of our plants in these islands. Our regular contractor will be assisting us financially and working to better educate their ground crew to correct these errors.

 Please bear with us while we both replant and add new plants this fall, and continue to monitor the health of the remaining damaged plants, many of which will return in the spring. Our Landscape Committee and the team at Native Plants Matter are saddened by the less than desirable aesthetics of some of our strategically designed islands, and we hope that you will give us, and the plants, time to show their true colors! 

 A few of our plants need replacing not due to accidental herbicidal spray, but due to dog urine burn.  Please be respectful of the work and costs of our Lochmere landscape.  Keep your dogs off the plantings in the islands, the gazebo, the medians.... and thank you for picking up their poop and depositing the bags in appropriate trash receptacles that are throughout our sidewalk and trail areas rather than behind shrubbery that someone else then must pick up.

Loch Lomond Gazebo New Plant Installation:

As a contrast, if you have not yet had the opportunity, please walk by the new plant installation at Loch Lomond’s gazebo.

Here you will see our young plants beginning to thrive. 

Additional Island Rejuvenations:

 Two additional islands have been selected for rejuvenation this winter. Lochwood West (across from the HOA office entrance) and Gearrland Lane (on Loch Highlands Drive) will both have old plant material removed, soil amendments added, and new plants added  in the coming months.

 Internal Island Plant Survey:

The Lochmere Landscape Committee is preparing to install new plantings at the 6 internal islands where invasive and overgrown species were removed earlier this year. If you live near any of these 6 islands, the Committee would greatly appreciate your input regarding the selections being considered. These species were chosen due to a variety of characteristics including native origin, mature size, general low maintenance needs, soil, water and light requirements, and multi-season aesthetic interest.   The islands are located near:

118 Lochwood West

103 Meadowglades

100 Whisperwood

101 Laurelwood

211 Sylvan Grove

202 Sylvan Grove

If you would like to look at the potential selections and voice your preferences, please visit this link and submit your responses by Thursday, October 9 at 7:00pm. Please keep in mind that any final selections made by the landscape contractor will have to take last minute availability into account.

 Annual Plantings:

 Annual flowers have been approved and Ruppert will be planting these very shortly. Much attention during the design process has been given to soil health and watering requirements, so as to maintain the visual appeal of these annual plantings through the fall and winter. 

 Don't forget if you have any questions, concerns, ideas or want to be involved with landscaping in Lochmere, please contact the Landscape Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The mission of the Landscape Committee is to create and maintain a neighborhood landscape that is worthy of a premier community in the southeast and to maintain the environnmental health and asthetic value of our community common areas. 

Members of the Landscape Committee are: 

• Susan Coulter, Chairperson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) 
• SusanBavisoto
• Marla Bohm
• Megan Holler
• Lee Janda 
• Rex Pearce 
• Sahar Teymouri

December 2025 Committee Update

December is here and almost gone! We have seen a beautiful fall in our forested Lochmere home. Did you know that a representative from NC Forest Service was talking with an attendee at Cary's Harvest Fest on Nov 15th and said that Lochmere was a positive example of good tree stewardship for best practices with tree care! Go Lochmere!

Weight reduction pruning on trees along Loch Highlands Drive was done the week of December 1.

To those of you have asked: Yes, we are keeping our HOA leaves.  Our ground crews are trying to blow our fallen leaves into the mulch circles under the trees where they have fallen.  If the leaf coverage over the grass is light, they will mulch in place.  Thank you for NOT dumping your leaves onto nearby medians or HOA common spaces.  The TOC will not necessarily pick them up. Leaving these leaves under their trees will curious the soil in which these trees grow as the compost.

Please note that we have 14 planted medians including 6 completely newly designed and planted medians where Holly trees and scrub shrubs were removed.  ***please, if any of you live near these islands, consider "adopting" an island---let us know and we can discuss how to help keep them weeded and watered as needed.  

We also have now a total of nine entrance medians planted for the fall/winter by Ruppert, our landscape company.  Some of these are irrigated and some are not.  Give them time to grow and show their beauty. Some of these plants are perennial and will last many years.

Neighbors and friends, please do NOT allow your pets to pee or poop in our medians as you walk by!  This burns the plants, necessitates replanting and is a waste of your money!

This is a wonderful time of year to plant in the NC piedmont area.  We will be posting for your view, suggested plantings for your property.  If you are hoping to plant shrubs or trees to screen orenhance your property, please look under our Landscape page for NON-invasive and perhaps native plants.  

Spring Plantings:

As many of us will begin planning for spring planting soon after the holidays, the Landscape Committee would like to bring to your attention the growing list of invasive, non-native plants in our area. These plants are ones that have been introduced to our region and replace our native species. (Examples are English ivy, privet, multiflora rose, Bradford pear, and Asian wisterias.) As our wildlife is reliant on native plants for food and shelter, it’s important that we take time to consider what we plant and the potential impact on our ecosystem. If we all take a moment to review the invasive plant list before choosing new plants for our gardens, it will go a long way to reducing the unintentional spreading of invasive plants! Here’s a great resource from the NC Native Plant Society https://ncwildflower.org/invasive-exotic-species-list/. For additional resources, take a look at Lochmere’s Native Plant Recommendations Guide.

The Landscape Committee is excited to be working with to Ruppert Landscaping, our landscape contractor here in Lochmere.

We approached our first spring (2024) with our new landscape contractor, Ruppert. Please be patient as we continue to bring them up to speed on new procedures, while maintaining the high quality of service that is expected within the Lochmere community.

We couldn't be happier to have Ruppert on board to enhance and beautify our community.  With their expertise in landscaping and commitment to excellence, Ruppert brings a fresh perspective and a passion for creating stunning outdoor spaces. Ruppert Landscape has been an industry-leading provider of commercial landscaping services for almost 50 years.  The company prides itself on its strong culture, commitment to its employees, unmatched attention to its customers and giving back to the community.

In addition to their stellar reputation for quality workmanship, Ruppert shares our values of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Together, we look forward to not only enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our neighborhood but also contributing to the health and vitality of our local ecosystem.

Please direct any questions and comments to your Landscape Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Traffic Island Native Plant Installations

Lochmere has over 100 traffic islands throughout our community. Many of these locations have aging, non-native plants, and a good number of these continue to outgrow their spaces, resulting in ongoing and costly maintenance needs.

In an effort to revitalize our most unsightly islands, all the while being good stewards of our landscape dollars, the Landscape Committee has begun an ongoing project to redesign these garden beds.

(Lochwood West Before)

This work began in the winter of 2023 with the removal of invasive plants from two islands (Lochwood West Drive and Spring Hollow Lane) and the amendment of the nutrient deficient soil. On March 11, 2024, these two islands were replanted with native selections by Native Plants Matter.   We have prioritized all islands throughout the community and prioritized the next 5 islands to be revitalized. Soil and garden bed preparation will begin for the these five islands in September/October 2024, with plant installation planned for November 2024.

(Lochwood West Immediately After Planting)

Not only will these native plants require less water and maintenance long term, but they will also provide food, shelter and habitat for our pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Watch them with us, as they fill out in the coming months! 

If you would be willing to help keep these new beds watered (especially if you are in close proximity to one), please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can suggest a schedule.  Once they are established they will not need regular watering.  

Piedmont Prairie

January Update:  Seeds for our piedmont prairie, below the Highlands dam, have been sown! Please help us protect this area, by not walking, or allowing your pets to walk, on the jute material that is covering the seeds. Let’s watch the new growth as spring arrives! Additional information about the project can be found on Leaf & Limb’s website, or linked on the signage at the prairie. For a listing of the species used, see the attached “Lochmere Prairie Plant List.”

From Leaf & Limb:In addition to feeding countless pollinators, butterflies, and birds, these deep-rooted native flowers and grasses also help build soil, hold rainwater in the ground, and pull CO2 from the atmosphere. All of this helps address serious environmental issues and heal Earth. If you want to learn more about the many incredible benefits of these ecosystems, we recommend that you read our free book, From Wasteland to Wonder.

Loch Lomond Gazebo:

January Update: Work has begun on revitalizing the landscaping around Loch Lomond’s gazebo. Last year, the Bradford Pears and old hollies were removed from around the gazebo and the soil amended. The Landscape Committee is working with Native Plants Matter on a design that will bring 3+ seasons of interest to this space, while also providing food and habitat for our native pollinators, improving the soil health, and limiting soil erosion into the lake.

April 2024

New Mulch Changes Have Begun!

There’s nothing like the satisfaction that spreading pine straw or hardwood mulch brings to many of us in the spring! But, did you know that given how lightweight it is, pine straw washes away easily, and that it provides less nutritional value for the soil and has less water retention abilities when compared to other mulches? These are some of the reasons why the Lochmere Landscape Committee is making a few changes this spring with mulching throughout the neighborhood. You will still see pine straw at the main entrances and the Rec clubs, as well as down the medians of our two main roads, but in other areas you’ll see a combination of hardwood mulch and leaf mulch (the most ecologically friendly option, and one recommended by many groups, including the USDA). Every attempt is being made this season to replenish the health of our soil, improve water retention and limit erosion, and provide habitat for our native wildlife. The earthy smell of the mulch, like fragrances from the application of other mulches, will dissipate quickly. Given the good foundation put in place this year, next spring we do not anticipate needing to bring in nearly as much leaf mulch. Instead, we will continue leaving our leaves or mulching our own leaves in place, and where additional top dressing is required, we’ll again work to partner with the Town to receive free shredded leaves from the fall curbside collections.

Interested in learning more about the value of natural mulch? Check out the US Department of Agriculture,Forsyth Audubon or Texas A&M’s Agrilife Extension for more information!

Additional Info:

• Preparing to plant in your own garden? Check out Lochmere’s Native Plant Recommendations guide.
• See this link for the plant listing and island design.
• Check out this great program from the Town of Cary: Green Stormwater Infrastructure Grant

“Cary is now offering a grant program that provides reimbursement of up to $5,000 to property owners who wish to install eligible GSI devices on their property and are willing to maintain the measure for at least 5 years”