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3/1/2007
Tropical Landscaping Key Element To Fiddler's Creek's Success
NAPLES, FL. (March 30, 2007) -- Many consider Florida a tropical paradise. The word "tropical" is used to describe many aspects of the Florida lifestyle. The ideal winter weather. The sandy Gulf beaches. And the abundance of wildlife.
For some developers it is all those things, plus one more - lush tropical landscaping. And, enhancing what exists and recreating what was never there is a time consuming and expensive proposition.
No one knows that better than Jim Vajen, director of golf course and community landscaping at Fiddler's Creek, a 4,000-acre, golf, resort-lifestyle community being developed by The Gulf Bay Group of Companies of which all but 1,200 acres have been left to Mother Nature.
Fiddler's Creek, located on Collier Boulevard approximately three miles south of US 41, is part nature preserve, part residential neighborhoods. But when residents and visitors enter the community and drive to their destination - it's difficult to tell the two apart.
"I've worked in other golf course communities, but leading the list is Gulf Bay when it comes to the emphasis they put on the landscaping," said Vajen, a graduate of Michigan State who has been with Fiddler's Creek for more than six years.
Maintaining the current landscaping is just part of the job. Vajen is also responsible for all the new landscaping that will be planted throughout the community as new villages come on line.
"In the course of a week I work with 10 different landscaping sub-contractor businesses which represent more than 100 workers on site," said Vajen. "In addition, I'm proud of my senior managers who are extremely dedicated to this community: Kelly Shields, Course Superintendent, Richard Garcia, Assistant Course Superintendent, Bob Eaklay, Assistant Landscape Superintendent, and Bill Hiscock, Installation Landscape Superintendent."
One of the goals of the landscaping plan at Fiddler's Creek, especially along its main entry boulevard, is to make the villages and the homes within the villages become immersed in nature.
"When you drive into the community there is a total separation between the boulevard and the homes near the boulevard," said Vajen. "The landscaping is so detailed that homeowners have an aura of privacy no matter where they may reside because of the lush setting."
"To accomplish this, Gulf Bay goes way beyond the county required landscaping minimums."
The weather some times has an effect on the landscaping throughout the community. When Hurricane Wilma came through Southwest Florida in October 2005, many of Fiddler's Creek's tallest and oldest trees were damaged.
"The day after the storm passed we were out assessing what needed to be done to restore the community to its pre-storm appearance," said Vajen. "And to Gulf Bay's credit, within weeks the majority of the trees were replaced with Grade A, B and C live oaks and numerous palm tree varieties. It was as if the storm never happened."
The number of trees, plants, shrubs and flowers throughout the community is just one element of the community's overall plan. In addition to its lush appearance, color is also very important.
"Two to three times a year we change out the flowers to keep the color alive during the various growing seasons," said Vajen. "We also plant a great deal of bougainvillea which adds radiant color throughout the community, including the golf course."
In February, Bill Ford, the vice president of development for Gulf Bay, announced that 69 buildings within the community were under construction, representing a total of 248 single-family and multi-family residences, a record for the community.
Once each of those buildings are finished, its Vajen's responsibility to transform what had been a construction site into a lush residential setting.
"With all these buildings coming on line it's going to be a very busy year for my department and all the workers," he said. "We start with the first building and plant the various trees, flowers and shrubs according to our original plan."
"We then access its appearance and curb appeal and add more if necessary. Once we are happy with the landscaping design for the first building we follow a similar design for each of the remaining buildings so there is continuity within the village."
Vajen explained it takes approximately one year for the plants to mature and produce the visual effect the developer is looking for.
One of the greatest satisfactions Vajen gets from his job is watching what had been a plan on paper come to life through the various trees, flowers, grasses and shrubs he supervises as they are placed in the ground.
"I truly love what I do," concluded Vajen. "I come to work every day and immediately sense the serenity and the color and realize what had been an artist rendering - a blank palette - has now come to life."
Fiddler's Creek is located on Collier Boulevard, three miles south of US 41 East. The sales center is located at 8152 Fiddler's Creek Parkway. For additional information call (239) 732-9300 or visit their Web site at www.fiddlerscreek.com.
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