PAGE 8 • THE VILLAGER • November 4, 2010 Ali's Cleaning Service ❉ Residential & Commercial ❉ Window Cleaning ❉ Licensed & Insured CALL ... 720-300-6731 OR EMAIL ... [email protected] Ali Colocho, Manager www.a-teamelectronics.com | [email protected] a-team inc. SUPER SIZE YOUR SECURITY SYSTEM • Don’t Just Detect Danger, Prevent It! • Prevent Intrusion • Prevent water and freeze damage • Control Lighting • Control Energy • Instant Medical Response CUSTOM MEDIA ROOMS • WATCH: Movies, Sports, Live Concerts • PLAY: Video games • LEARN: Languages, classes, interactive skills • TRANSACT: Business, conferences, banking • ENTERTAIN: Pictures, videos Contact us today. Brian Beck 303.570.1365 “Your Satisfaction is Our Goal” Family Owned Established 1949 2659 W. MAIN ST. LITTLETON, CO 80120 PHONE 303-795-1323 FAX 795-1325 www.UniqueLandscapesAndGardensInc.com UNIQUE LANDSCAPES & GARDENS dream it If you can we can build it. 303.274.0201 digs BY JENNIFER SCHAUFELE DRCOG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR W e’re now at the sixth of the livable communi- ties principles that will conclude my discussion with you about the federal partnership for sustainable communities between the Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban De- velopment office, and the Depart- ment of Transportation. We’ve talked about choices in transporta- tion and housing, the importance of economic competitiveness, pre- serving community character, and leveraging partnerships. The last principle is the one that could be thought of as summing things up. Value communities and neighborhoods Enhance the unique character- istics of all communities by invest- ing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods — rural, urban, or suburban. You might be thinking to your- self, how can a rural community be considered walkable? For that matter, what about my subur- ban home and how can that be considered on the same level as somebody who lives in downtown Denver? Maybe we need to start by talk- ing about why a walkable com- munity is important, and where and why we’re walking. Walkable neighborhoods are those with con- nections -- connections to trails and connections to services. That’s how a walkable neighborhood can look different depending on where you are. You could be walking be- tween different shops, restaurants and other places that provide ser- vices you need in an urban area; you could be walking to visit with friends or take your kids to school, or you could be walking to enjoy the outdoors and promote your health. Different uses may require sidewalks, they may require well- maintained trails, and in a truly walkable environment you can get from one to the other without stretches between where access on foot is difficult. Here in Green- wood Village, we have elements of rural, suburban and urban envi- ronments. Recreational walkers who en- joy the Marjorie Perry open space can connect with a network of communities by way of the High- line Canal Trail. That trail runs 66 miles through three counties. It’s one of the most popular rec- reational trails in greater Denver area, and accommodates not only walkers, but runners and cyclists. One of the valuable elements of the neighborhoods that adjoin the open space in Greenwood Vil- lage are connections not only to the Highline Canal Trail but oth- ers in the area. You can walk out of your house or wheel your bike out of the garage and go to the trail- head without having to drive and park. There may be other times that your walking needs are more city- oriented, and those are the times that you want to be able to park your car and do a little shopping and then get on the light rail and get to work downtown, or to at- tend a sporting event or get to an- other cultural attraction. Why are these things impor- tant? According to Walkscore. com, one point of Walk Score can be worth up to $3,000 in value for your property—that’s nothing to take lightly when talking about the most significant investment most of us will ever make. And speak- ing of investments, walkability is an investment in your health, as well: the average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs seven pounds less than someone who lives in a less walkable one. Curious about your own walk score? Enter your address into www.walkscore.com to find out how you rank. Knowing what goes into mak- ing a walkable community helps citizens advocate for improve- ments that preserve access while keeping the character of the area. Greenwood Village will always be a suburban community, but part of what makes it unique is the ability to summon either a rural character by walking a trail like the High- line, or to evoke the urban in its transit facilities and walkable con- nections to the core city. Jennifer Schaufele is the executive director of the Denver Regional Council of Governments and a Greenwood Village resident SUBMITTED BY BLUE IRIS LANDSCAPING Most of us that think of plant- ing in the fall only think of plant- ing spring flowering bulbs. But the truth is, it is a great time to plant perennials, trees, shrubs and Why? Fall is an ideal time for planting for the following reasons: In cooler temperatures, plants don’t need as much water and have less stress from transplanting. Cooler temps are also easier on the gardener. In the fall, soils tend to be just the right temperature that makes the roots more comfortable. In the fall, plants begin to go dor- mant. It’s during the fall that roots get a chance to absorb all of the nu- trients without needing to distribute them to the leaves and blooms. You can plant most plants through mid-October (depending on the weather). This will allow roots another two months to get es- tablished before winter. Established plants also have a better chance of making it through the heat of the next summer. Here are some ideas to incorpo- rate into your garden: Contrast Combine light colored leaves with dark colored leaves; coarse textures with fine, lacy textures for a dramatic and interesting look. Use grasses Use ornamental grasses like Miscanthus (maiden grass), Pen- nisetum (fountain grass), or Cala- magrostis (feather reed grass) to add texture, movement, height (in some cases), and color to your fall landscape. Fall color Choose shrubs like viburnum, burning bush, dogwoods, and ma- ples to add some red color to your fall landscape. Evergreens Evergreen trees such as spruce or pine and evergreen shrubs such as spruce, pine, juniper, and euonymus act as a backdrop to summer flowers and as an anchor in a winter land- scape. di g s Keys to a fabulous fall garden Use ornamental grasses to add texture, movement, height (in some cases) and color to your fall landscape. Photo courtesy of Blue Iris Landscaping GV, Highline Canal Trail offer residents quality, walkable lifestyle