From: "Emad Hanna"

From: "Emad Hanna" To: "Jeevacation" <jeevacation®gmail.com> Subject: Stopek Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:20:54 +0000 Attachments: neocruenta.jpg; neoregelia_fireball_containerjpg; neo_ljpg; aloe_white_teethjpg; aloetomentosabloomsjpg Jeffrey, Stopek's response is below and he has several area's that he is looking for direction on. Thank you I visited the grounds today and reviewed the work we just completed. As per Mr. Epstein's request we have now mulched most areas of the landscape and therefore covered the exposed brown hose drip lines. We cleaned the pool Coconut palms. We pruned the Bouganvillea in the west and north sides of the pool. I do need direction for this particular plant. Mr. Epstein first stated that he would like them to be left without pruning. He wanted them somewhat wild and natural and be a direct contrast to the groomed Ficus hedge just behind them. However, this concept cannot last very long. Bouganvilleas grow very quickly and project long stems that are covered with thorns. They can easily get 6',8' and much longer. Without pruning, Bougs. can get as long as 25' in length. And, as they get longer they tend to lean and eventually fall over and making them hazardous. So, I need to know how to present these plants, other than with a lot of flower. I must prune them but to what shape is really the answer I am looking for. I know he does not want the "globe" presentation but do I box them like the Ficus EFTA00770184 hedge. Do I maintain them clean and constantly cut or do I, intermittently, let them produce some of those long stems and then cut them when deemed necessary? The irrigation system does have a rain sensor. The system should cut off during a rain and the clock will reset. I will have it checked by Wednesday to see if the sensor is working. Regarding the photos of the purple Pentas plants under the coconut palms... these plants are found in 3 smaller beds in the pool area. I selected this particular plant variety because it can produce purple flowers year round. Its life span is about 2 years generally. I need direction in this area as well. First you must understand that the beds, in particularly the two that contain the coconut palms are quite small. They are cut-outs within the pool deck. The palms consume much of the space in these beds. But more importantly, the roots consume all of the space in the bed. I also selected this plant because it is grown in a 1 gallon container, only 6.5" in diameter, and it has a shallow root system. I was able to squeeze them in the little soil area there. This is a cultural problem. We have installed different types of plants in these two Coconut beds for years and have had moderate success. Mainly, because of the lack of open space for root expansion. I have also tried to only use purple flowering plants in the selection process. There are only a handful of these plants to consider and the other varieties are even weaker plants that don't bloom as much. So, I need some input and direction for these specific areas. Can I expand the plant palette and not use only purple flowers? Can I use Bromeliads there that don't have much of a root system and will produce additional plants that will "fill in" the base of the coconut palms yet not supply a lot of color? Can I use an Aloe variety that will produce intermittent flowers of pink but also will fill in the base over time and not require, EFTA00770185 like the bromeliad, a lot of root space? Or do I remove these purple Pentas and replant now and at future times when the plants take a bit of a turn for the worse? We must be culturally correct in order for the plant population to succeed for any length of time. Please let me know about these two particular issues, Bouganvillea shapes and forms and flowering or not plants for the base of the Coconuts in the pool area. Thank you. alan stopek efflorescence Ps the photos include some bromeliad species called neoregelias and a couple of aloe varieties. Emad Hanna Project Controller HBRK Associates PO Box 400 New York, NY 10150 EFTA00770186