Community News

White Garden Snails

Have you seen small (12-14 mm in diameter) white snails w/brown whorls stuck to tree and shrub trunks? These are not the usual brown snails we’ve tolerated for years.

The White Garden Snail, Theba pisana, is a nuisance pest from Sicily which first reached CA at La Jolla in 1914. It has been eradicated twice since then, but is back in force since it likes to estivate on freight.  It estivates (passes summer or the dry season in a dormant state) by sealing itself with a mucous plug to a trunk, limb, stalk or even rubber and plastic tree ties.  

To remove estivating snails:

• Use a sturdy stick or rod to scrape them off.

• The part left on your plant will wash off when the rains start.

• Put newspaper below plant to catch “scraped off” snails. Fold up and place in non-recycled garbage.

• DO NOT try to remove by hand because the shells crush easily, and can give one a nasty, easily infected cut.

The snail is capable of explosive reproduction rates which start with the first rains.

• Each lays 50 – 225 eggs at a depth of two inches in soil.

• Eggs hatch in 20 days.

• Average snail lives 3-4 years.

The best way to get rid of them is scraping in the summer, and hand picking once the rains start.  

• Hand picking and poisoning only work when the snails are not estivating.

• Poisonous sprays and baits you have used for years can work.

• The ingredients in the 2 most commonly used ones are metaldehyde and iron phosphate.

• Baits are flavored to make them attractive to snails and slugs, hence their attraction to dogs and cats.

• Some are given a bitter taste to make them unattractive to pets.

• Snail poisons are toxic to dogs and cats if they ingest them, so be careful how you use them.

References:
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=43416
http://idtools.org/id/mollusc/factsheet.php?name=Theba%20pisana

Living With Coyotes

Due to the many acres of open area in our community and our close proximity to the surrounding uninhabited areas, we will often see wildlife within our community.  Coyotes seem to get the most attention because they not only prey on rabbits and small rodents but also on our pets.  Research shows that the best solution is to do whatever we can to stop attracting them to our homes. Please click on the link below to read the Dept. of Fish and Game's guidelines for discouraging coyote interest.

Thank You!

The HOA Board Members would like to thank everyone that mailed back their SSF HOA Board Member ballot.

We had a good response this year and are happy to announce the winners of the three $50 gift cards.

Paul Robbins -- $50 The Cheesecake Factory
Cleo Shelton -- $50 BJ's
Ron Kollmansberger -- $50 Macaroni Grill

Congratulations to all the winners!

Notice

September 14, 2015

FROM:  Sonata Single Family Architectural Review Committee (ARC)
RE:  Trash Cans/  Palm Trees/  Watering Lawns

As most of you know, the Sonata Single Family Architectural Review Committee (ARC) is responsible for maintaining community standards regarding the appearance of homes and yards.

Trash Cans - On our recent drive-through we have noticed an increasing number of homes not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations regarding trash cans.

Trash cans must be stored out of sight of neighboring properties, the street or common areas.  This includes recycling and green waste containers.  Containers may be placed on the street on the evening before trash pick-up and must be removed no later than the evening of pick-up day.

Trees - Homeowners whose landscaping includes large trees have an extra responsibility to their neighbors.  Dead palm fronds are a significant fire hazard and also attract rodents and must be promptly removed. Trees must also be trimmed so as not to overhang your neighbor’s property and other right of ways.

Lawn Watering/Yard Maintenance - We also need to address the current drought and its effect on lawns, trees and other landscaping.  Everyone is conscious of the water reduction guidelines promoted by Rincon and San Diego County.  Most homeowners are reducing the amount and frequency of lawn watering.    Please keep in mind that the watering restrictions established during the current drought are not intended to allow neglect of the overall landscaping and appearance of the property.

Shrubs and trees are a valuable asset and can take years to replace if they die from lack of water.  You can set your irrigation system to cut back on the water going onto the lawn but still provide sufficient water to the rest of the yard.  Or you can reduce the overall time that your system waters the complete yard – using a 25% example, if you have been watering for 25 minutes per cycle, the time can be cut back to 18 minutes and still provide water to the complete yard.

It is not acceptable to simply let your landscaping die out completely. Many homeowners have decided to re-landscape their yards with drought tolerant plants and various ground covers. At a minimum, your yard should be maintained and kept free of weeds and debris.

Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining Sonata’s reputation as a beautiful community.  If you have any questions about our ARC standards, please refer the Sonata HOA Rules and Regulations. If you need a copy, please contact our Property Manager at PCM or download a copy from this website under the "For Homeowners" tab.

Towering Bloom Spike in Boulder Garden

Contributed by Joseph Allen

You may have noticed an impressive bloom spike towering 25 feet above the Boulder Garden near the upper intersection of Beethoven and Inspiration. It’s easily seen while driving up or down the hill: look left going up; look right going down.

Embarrassingly, we are unable to ID this rare agave species at this time, but we are working on it. We planted it in the fall of 2008 as part of restoring the Boulder area following the 2007 fire. 

All agaves die soon after blooming, but many offshoots (pups) survive to bloom later. Their leaves are generally toothed along the edges and have a sharp stiff tip. Always look behind you before bending over near agaves.

The Century Plant, agave Americana, blooms from 10 years on up depending on climatic and soil conditions. 

At the U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the "Variegata Asparagaceae" agave is currently blooming after 80 years in a glass greenhouse. Chiefly Mexican, agaves are also native to the southern and western United States and central and tropical South America. 

Agave azul (blue agave), native to Jalisco, Mexico, is used in the making of tequila. Only agave hearts from Jalisco can have the appellation “Tequila” when heated to release their sap which is distilled to become Tequila.