The Common Area is that area denoted by the chequered green which is owned  and managed by BVRA. The light green strip that borders each lot denotes the amenity yard, comprising the first one and a half to two metres of each lot's roadside boundary (depending on location). Underneath that strip lies the electricity conduit and the broadband cables that service all properties on the estate. While that strip is owned by each member, the responsibility for deciding and managing the plantings as well as ensuring the security of the electricity and fibre cables in this strip belongs to the BVRA. 
Planting Guidelines that Support the Design Covenants
 These  guidelines have been developed for owners for two reasons:
-  to assist in the design of their landscaping plans
-  to ensure that those plans comply with the rules and bylaws of the Association.
It is in all Bella Vista owners’ interests that Bella Vista Land has a consistency of design and that the standards originally set out in the Rules and agreed to through the Deeds of Covenant are maintained by all owners.  After all, this is why we all purchased lots and properties on Bella Vista Land.
​It is recognised that some owners will not be aware of the growing habits and other characteristics of the plants in their gardens. The Guide is therefore aimed to provide a description of each plant and the plant care that should be applied to ensure that plantings achieve optimum results in terms of height and width, colour of foliage and flowers, soil condition, aspect in relation to sun, wind and rainfall. The categories follow the existing guidelines in the Bella Vista Rules:
  • Native Regenerative Plantings
  • Water Marginal Planting
  • Street Planting
The Planting Guide can be downloaded by clicking on the button below. Feel free to direct questions to Kerry Hart, the author of this Guide.

Guide to Picking Landscaping Plants

Extracted from Landscaping Basics by The Spruce - see article here
If you need some help selecting plants for your garden, the guide above provides information on native regenerative plants , water marginal plantings, and street planting. Plant selection should always be governed by research into the qualities of the specific specimens under consideration, and sometimes you will need to compromise. But never is such research more critical than when it comes to selecting trees for your landscape—so it is with trees that we will begin.
  • Trees
​In other categories of plant selection, you have room for error. But if you situate a big tree in a spot where it does not belong, it can cause grave headaches down the road. Many homeowners end up paying to have a tree that overhangs a house dangerously limbed (or removed altogether).There is another reason to exercise wise plant selection when choosing a tree. Many trees are slow growers, meaning you will have to wait years to reap the benefits of planting them. When that waiting period is over, you don't want to be saddled with features for which you didn't expect. Be sure you know what the height & width is likley to be before you install a tree.
Trees can be categorized in a number of ways. Some examples include:
  • Flowering trees
  • Evergreen or deciduous trees
  • Fast-growing shade trees
  • Dwarf trees
  • Shrubs
Shrubs can be categorized in a number of ways. Some examples include:
  • Flowering shrubs
  • Shrubs for Autumn colour
  • Fast-growing shrubs
  • Evergreen shrubs
Shrubs can also be organized according to how they are used. The growth habits and care and maintenance requirements of shrubs selected to be adjacent to the house should be fully understood. Certain shrubs are good choices for foundation plantings - that give form, structure and texture to the garden - because they stay compact, thereby minimizing maintenance.

  • Ground Covers
​Some ground covers are foliage plants; that is, they are not known for putting on spectacular flowering displays, but they have attractive leaves. But many homeowners want more from a ground cover. They demand that it bloom profusely, as well as affording soil erosion prevention. 
Flowering  ground covers are considered something of a Holy Grail for the landscaper. They offer both beauty and function, giving the garden colour while simultaneously fighting weeds and controlling erosion. 
Many flowering ground covers bloom for only a short period of time during the spring or summer. Consequently, the best examples have nice foliage in addition to flowers, so they look good throughout the growing season. Most flowering ground covers should be planted in a spot with full sun for best performance, but there are a few good options for areas with partial shade.