1. home and garden

March / April 2015
THE OFFICIAL Newsletter OF VILLAROSA
April 4 is the date of the Spring Egg Hunt, open (ONLY) for
children 10 years and under, and is scheduled for 10 a.m.
(sharp!) in the Villa Rosa county park.
PUBLISHED BY IKARE PUBLISHING INC. [email protected] - 813-991-7843
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Page 3
Villa Rosa Views
VILLA ROSA Board
Members
Board Of Directors:
Stuart Langsam - President
Carl Calvo - Vice President
Guillermo Stahl - Secretary/
Treasurer
Editor: IKare Publishing Inc. 991-7843
Publication deadlines are the first Friday of every other month.
Distribution: 910 copies to residents and all advertisers.
Articles of general interest and letters to the Editor are welcomed for inclusion.
All written communication may be edited for length and clarity and cannot be
returned.The Editor reserves the right to change policies and advertising rates
without prior notice.The views expressed in articles in the newsletter do not
necessarily represent the views of IKare Publishing, Inc.
The advertisers in this and subsequent issues are referred by your neighbors.
It is important that you patronize the advertisers because without them there
would be no newsletter. Recommend this newsletter to your friends!
Website: www.villarosahoa.com
Please call Kim at 991-7843 for advertising rates.
[email protected]
Board Of Directors Meetings
IKare Publishing is not responsible for content or accuracy. We would
encourage all residents to attend the meetings held in your community in
order to stay on top of all issues.
Both locations and dates are subject to change
from time to time and changes to the standards will
be posted on the website, and on-site either on the
community sign or the gatehouse wall.
To speak or request agenda time, contact :
[email protected]
Villa Rosa
Website
www.villarosahoa.com
For Advertising Contact:
813-991-7843
[email protected]
The Villa Rosa newsletter is mailed to the residents of Villa Rosa
every other month at no cost to the Homeowners Association.
IKare Publishing or Villa Rosa is not responsible for the actions or credibility of any the
advertisers in this newsletters. It is the individual’s responsibility to check references on
all advertisers. IKare Publishing is provided all articles in this newsletter by the BOD or
residents. IKare Publishing is not responsible for content.
Editor’s Corner
VILLA ROSA
Committees
Community Association
Leland Management:
Association Manager:
Derek Lovett, LCAM
[email protected]
727-451-7907-Direct Phone
Accounting: Assessment & Billing
[email protected]
727-451-7850
Architectural:
[email protected]
727-451-7905
Gates: [email protected]
727-451-7900, ext. 1119
After Hours Emergency 727-451-7900
Editor’s Note: If you would like to make a comment, submit an article, or
suggest a topic, send it to [email protected]. Keep in mind that
the deadline for the May/June newsletter is March 31st.
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Page 5
Villa Rosa Views
Welcome New Board of Directors
The Villa Rosa Board of Directors election results were
announced at the Annual Association Meeting on January
27th, and are as follows:
Stuart Langsam - President
Carl Calvo - Vice President
Guillermo Stahl - Secretary/Treasurer
Dates/locations for the monthly Board of Directors meetings
are posted in the events calendar of the resident website at
www.villarosahoa.com. To request a time to speak at a
meeting or request an item be added to the agenda, contact
[email protected].
A Different Kind of ‘Neighborhood
Watch’
Just as a reminder, our Community Association Manager
(CAM) monitors our neighborhoods via onsite visits each
month to enforce the covenant restrictions. During the
months of March and April, the focus will be on ensuring that
sod is being replaced as needed, that palm trees are trimmed
appropriately and that the houses, driveways and sidewalks
are pressure washed if needed. If you’re unsure of the
necessary upkeep that is required on your property, visit the
Governing Documents page under the Policies and
Governance tab of the Villa Rosa resident website
(www.villarosahoa.com). To find out approximately when
your property will be inspected, you can contact the CAM via
[email protected]
Now
Recruiting
Even though
only 3 – 5
residents are
elected to the
Board of
Directors, there
is a serious
need for
additional
residents to support Villa Rosa in other capacities. We
desperately need volunteers to join the following
committees:
Architectural Control Committee
Finance Committee
Landscape Committee
Mediation Committee
Website Committee
Welcome Committee
To find out more about these opportunities, visit the
Committees page under the Policies & Governance tab of the
resident website (www.villarosahoa.com).
If you, or a neighbor, are able to serve on a Villa Rosa
Committee, please indicate your willingness in an email to:
[email protected].
Warning: Possible Gridlock Ahead
As those who exit Villa Rosa during the morning rush hour are aware, there is frequently considerable traffic congestion during
that time on Lutz-Lake Fern Road between the Heritage Harbor subdivision and the Veterans Expressway. That congestion
could soon be experienced at the Lutz-Lake Fern/Sunlake intersection as well.
Now that Sunlake Boulevard has opened up at Highway 54 and cuts all the way through to Dale Mabry, traffic on Sunlake will
most likely increase; in addition, a developer has applied to Hillsborough County for a Special Land Use (SLU) permit to build its
"Sunlake Academy" K-8 charter school on the horse farmland near the Lutz-Lake Fern/Sunlake intersection. If the project is
approved, it could mean a substantial increase in traffic to handle the hundreds of students that would be dropped off at the
school.
The Lutz Citizens Coalition opposes this application due to its inappropriate size, scope, and density for the proposed location.
To review important elements of this application and the Coalition’s stance, please go to their website at: http://
www.lutzflorida.org/sunlake-su15-0071-front-page/.
The SLU Application (#15-0071) is scheduled to be heard -and decided upon- on March 16, 2015, at 6:00 P.M., in the Board of
County Commissioners Board Room, 2nd floor, County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. For more information, contact:
Mike White, President, Lutz Citizens Coalition, (813) 299-8835 or at [email protected].
Page 7
Villa Rosa Views
Gardener’s Corner
By Villa Rosa’s resident
Master Gardner,
Diane Tousignant
Hello Neighbors,
We have had a pretty mild winter and for that I am
grateful. There have been no severe freezes this winter
so up to now I have not lost any plants. There is still
some color in the yard but I look forward to the warmer
weather when everything will start growing and
blooming once again.
One great way to add color and year round interest is to
use Bromeliads in the landscape. Bromeliads are
standouts for their bold, often colorful leaves and for
the exotic flower spikes that many produce. There are
thousands of different bromeliads that come in an array
of shapes and sizes and work in many light conditions,
so you’re bound to find a variety that can work for you.
Bromeliads at a Glance
Sydney Park Brown1
Bromeliads are easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plants that can be enjoyed
indoors as houseplants, outside in containers, or, in warmer parts of Florida, as
landscape plants. The bromeliads commonly sold at garden centers have
colorful, long-lasting flower displays and/or brilliantly-colored foliage. Other
familiar bromeliads are Spanish moss, ball moss and the pineapple. In their
native habitat, many bromeliads grow on trees as epiphytes—taking their
moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere and the debris that decays in their
“cups.” They are not parasites and will not harm the plants to which they are
attached. The Bromeliad Society International is a good source of Bromeliad
information.
For more information you can contact the local
Bromeliad Guild of Tampa Bay.
On a final note I would like to thank the past board
members for all the time and effort they have given to
our VillaRosa Community and to wish the new board
members congratulations and best wishes as they take
over the leadership of our homeowners association. And
remember that volunteers are always needed on our
many committees!
Guzmania
Happy Gardening!
Diane
Bromeliads as Houseplants
Questions? Comments?
[email protected]
Bromeliads make excellent houseplants that
will survive (but not grow) for many weeks under very low light conditions.
They'll thrive on a porch, near a window or anywhere where they receive
bright, diffused light, but no direct sun. A bromeliad will indicate whether light
levels are satisfactory. A yellowish or pale green plant may indicate that the
light level is too high. Conversely, dark green, soft, drooping leaves may be
signs that light is too low. Water once every week or two. The simplest way is
to put the plant in the sink or shower and allow lukewarm water to fill the cup
and run over the leaves and into the soil. It is rarely necessary to fertilize
bromeliads when grown as houseplants.
For more information on What To Plant and What to
Do each month go to UF/IFAS extension: Solutions
For Your Life. You will find the calendar under” Lawn
and Garden.”
REMEMBER! Before you begin to dig call
811”-Call Before You Dig”-and get your
underground utility lines marked for free!
“Mint Tulip” Guzmania
Continued on page 9
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Page 10
Villa Rosa Views
Gardener’s Corner
By Villa Rosa’s resident
Continued...
Bromeliads as Landscape or Container Plants
Blooming and Propagation
Most bromeliads are tropical or subtropical and thrive outdoors in
Florida's warm, humid environment. Most prefer shade or partial
shade, but some tolerate full sun. Even though they prefer
moisture and humidity, they are extremely tolerant of lowmoisture conditions and will survive prolonged periods of drought.
Most problems with bromeliads are associated with root rot
caused by too much moisture. The sandy, well-drained soils found
throughout most of Florida soils are good for growing bromeliads.
Where heavy clay soils exist, amend them with 2 to 3 inches of
organic matter (peat, leaf mold, compost, etc.) mixed into the
planting bed. Potted plants need a light, porous potting mix, for
example one part peat, one part bark, and one part coarse sand.
Many bromeliads form a "cup" or "vase" in their centers which
holds and absorbs water. Occasionally flush the cup with water to
prevent stagnation and to remove the salts left when water in the
cup evaporates. To prevent cold damage, remove water from the
cup when temperatures below 40°F are likely. Cold damage
appears as a brown line across each leaf at the water level.
Actively growing bromeliads respond to light applications of
fertilizer. They require little or no fertilizer during the winter
months, or under conditions of low light such as inside a home or
office. A general purpose, soluble fertilizer can be applied to the
soil of potted bromeliads every 1 to 2 months. Mix the fertilizer in
water at 1/3 to ½ of the recommended dosage. It is best not to
add fertilizer in the center cup because fertilizer salts could
accumulate and burn new leaves.
Bromeliads slowly die over a period of a year or two after
flowering. However, pups (young plants) usually develop at the
base of the “mother” plant. Separate the pups from the mother
plant when they are half the size of the parent plant. To start new
plants, simply cut the pup off where it attaches to the mother plant
and place it in potting soil. Many factors affect blooming—plant
age, day length, light intensity, water and temperature. Some
bromeliads bloom quite regularly while others do not. Bromeliad
plants must be mature to flower. The time from the formation of a
pup to maturity is approximately one year, but some species take
much longer. The foliage of most bromeliads is typically so
interesting and/or colorful that the blooms are considered a bonus.
You can grow some bromeliads on a board or piece of bark. Use
staples, various glues, plastic-coated wire, or nylon stockings to
attach them. Bromeliads can also be attached to the trunks of
trees using glue and stockings to hold them in place until their
roots attach securely
to the tree trunk.
Douse them with
water when humidity
or rainfall is low.
Gulf Coast REC, UF/
IFAS Extension,
Gainesville, FL
32611.
Pests
Mosquitoes will breed in the water-filled cups of bromeliads
growing outdoors Use a garden hose to occasionally rinse water
from the cups and flush out mosquito eggs, larvae, and decaying
leaves and twigs, which are a food source to the larvae. A
biological, mosquito control product (Bacillus thuringiensis
subspecies Israelensis) is available from garden centers and home
supply stores. The product can be sprinkled into bromeliad cups
where it will kill some species of mosquito larvae in 24 hours.
1.Sydney Park-Brown, associate professor, and consumer
horticulture specialist, Environmental Horticulture Department,
Gulf Coast REC, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.
Master Gardener Library Clinics

Mar. 3 –Managing Beneficial Insects in the Landscape, 6:30 PM,
Austin Davis Library, 17808 Wayne Road, Odessa, 33556, (813) 264-3901.
 Mar. 9 –Propagation 6:30 PM, Lutz Library, 101 Lutz Lake Fern Road,
Lutz, 33548, (813) 264-3827.
 Mar. 10 –Succulents, 7:00 PM, Jimmie B. Keel Library, 2902 W. Bearss
Avenue, Carrollwood, 33618, (813) 273-3652 x2.
 Apr. 7 –Groundcovers, 6:30 PM, Austin Davis Library, 17808 Wayne
Road, Odessa, 33556, (813)
 Apr. 13 –A Garden of Bright Ideas, 6:30 PM, Lutz Library, 101 Lutz
Lake Fern Road, Lutz, 33548, (813) 264-3827.
 Apr. 14 –Propagation, 7:00 PM, Jimmie B. Keel Library, 2902 W.
Bearss Avenue, Carrollwood, 33618, (813) 273-3652 x2.
Page 12
Villa Rosa Views
April 18 is the date of the Villa Rosa Community Yard Sale.
This is one of the two annual yard sales approved for Villa Rosa. Keep in mind it is a violation of
the HOA governing documents to hold any yard sale, garage sale or estate sale other than these
two annual community-wide sale events.
See the resident website www.villarosahoa.com for more and current information
about these events
Residents are invited to participate in the Community Garage Sale on Saturday, April 18, 2015. Mark your calendar now and join in the fun.
You may earn some money, make some new friends, and find a treasure or two for yourself.
Start Planning Now!
 Items To Consider Selling: Toys and games, tools, yard equipment, clothing, seasonal items, crafts, fabric and craft supplies, furniture and
wall décor, dishes, glassware, cookware, bicycles and bicycle parts, magazines and books, automotive parts, costume jewelry, and
watches.
 Savers and Pack Rats: Sort through your garage, closets, attics, sheds, storage units, dresser drawers, bookcases, and any other place
where “treasures” accumulate. Ask yourself if it’s worth the space or the effort to dust and clean it on a regular basis.
 Crafters: Organize and create craft items you plan to sell. Seasonal and other homemade items are always popular.
Tips For A Successful Garage Sale
 Clean and polish your wares.
 Gather display equipment: sturdy tables, racks, shelf units, hangars, boxes
 Display items neatly and group like items together (by style or price). Re-arrange as items sell.
 Hang clothing on hangars using clothing rack or rope for display.
 Collect newspapers and plastic bags for wrapping.
 Make signs and price tags, using masking tape or stickers. Price to sell but leave room for negotiation. Items may be marked down as
the day goes on.
 Gather extension cords and batteries for testing electronics.
 Have a calculator, pen, and paper available.
 Have the change available to start your day
 Remember that people expect to pay garage / yard sale prices. Unless something is brand-new with the tags on, they are not going to
pay more than a few quarters for it, if that. When pricing items to sell, always try to price things at what you feel would be a good bargain if you were buying the item at someone else’s garage sale.
Page 14
Villa Rosa Views
New Rotary Club Looking For
Members
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back,
The sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
--An Irish blessing
The Rotary Club of Lutz meets every Tuesday
morning 7 AM at Heritage Harbor Golf & Country
Club. We have a guest speaker every week and an
interesting program. Come meet your neighbors.
Rotary is a worldwide service organization founded
in 1905. Currently there are 1.2 million members in
34,000 clubs around the world. Membership in the
Lutz club allows you to visit and participate in
activities and make new friends at any of the other
Rotary clubs around the world. Some Rotary
activities include scholarships, youth exchange,
travel and hosting. Clubs do projects involving clean
water, literacy, health, economic and community
development, disease prevention and treatment,
and peace and conflict resolution to mention just a
few categories. The meeting includes a continental
breakfast, charge is $10.00. For more information
see www.rotary.org and www.rotary6890.org. or
call Doug Andrews (813) 857-7089.
St Patrick’s Recipe
Have some green fun with the kids this St. Patrick's Day by
making this yummy treat. Be sure to invite your
Leprechaun friends!
Leprechaun's Shake
1 cup skim milk
2 scoops vanilla nonfat frozen yogurt
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
2-3 drops green food coloring
Pour all ingredients into a blender and whirl until smooth
and green. Serve with a shamrock.
Did You Know?
Green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day because it is
the color of spring, Ireland, and the shamrock.
Leprechauns are also associated with this holiday.
According to the legend, the Leprechaun is an Irish fairy. It
is told that Leprechauns are unsociable, unfriendly, live
alone. Also, they make shoes and possess a hidden pot of
gold. The legend says if the Leprechaun is caught by a
treasure hunter then he must tell where is treasure is,
unless the Leprechaun can trick the hunter and vanish.
Gates Break For
Various Reasons:
The gated communities in
Villa Rosa differ from each
other in several ways;
however, they all have one
thing in common: their gates
break down every so often,
sometimes for no apparent reason (such as a
thunderstorm). Last year, the gate repair
technician found a frog that had worked its way
behind the control board panel of the Faberge gate
which shorted out the control board, causing it to
not respond to any command.
So the next time you see a gate open, don’t
immediately blame it on lightning or vandalism.
It could be for a scheduled opening (e.g. for school
buses or community event), or due to a worn out
part, or even because of a curious amphibian.
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Page 16
Villa Rosa Views
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Villa Rosa Views
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Villa Rosa Views
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The VillaRosa Views has been designed, published and mailed by IKare Publishing Inc. to Villa Rosa Residents.
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