Invasive Plant Guidelines

Invasive Plant Guidelines                                                  

Plants are considered invasive for several reasons:  a) they may overgrow or squeeze out native species; b) they may toxify the ground, poisoning beneficial plants, insects, and pollinators; c) they may be so aggressive that they are next-to-impossible to remove.

Some of these plants may be offered for sale in local nurseries. Reputable Indiana growers do not grow or sell these plants. However, large national nurseries buy plants from a variety of sources. What is invasive in one part of the country may not be invasive in another area. Also, these plants are occasionally mislabeled – or may have different names, depending on regions where they were grown. You help the success of Windridge’s greenspace, local nurseries, and Indiana beautification when you point out invasive species and request that nurseries stop selling them.

Code Key:

*Often included on lists that are recommended as food for wildlife, but their invasive tendencies ruin their valu,e and there are many other plants that are beneficial for wildlife without destroying the ecology. 

 ** Euonymous encompasses over 130 species of shrubs, vines, and ornamental trees. Some can be easily controlled but others are very aggressive. Check with a knowledgeable nursery expert or horticulturist before planting. Once established, they can be very difficult to remove, e.g., they can pull the paint off wood and the mortar out of brick walls!

 #The most destructive and difficult to eradicate. Should never be planted and wherever possible, should be removed. Aggressively.

 ? Possible name confusion: Different names regionally for the same plant; confusion over sub-categories within the same species; breeders rename plants for marketing purposes.   

 Flowering Plants

Bishop Weed (See Gout Weed or Snow on the Mountain)?

Canada Thistle (See Teasel)?

Cattail (Narrow-leaved)

Chameleon Plant#

Cypress Spurge

Common Tansy

Common Wormwood (or Mugwort)

Crown Vetch

Gout Weed (See Bishop Weed or Snow on the Mountain)?

Japanese Knotweed

Lemon Balm

Purple Loosestrife

Scottish Moss

Snow on the Mountain (See Bishop Weed or Gout Weed)?

Star of Bethlehem (ground cover)?

Sweet Annie Wormwood

Teasel (see Canada Thistle)?

Vinca Minor

Yellow Flag Iris

 

Grasses                                

Common Reed

Japanese Blood Grass

Maiden Grass (Japanese Silver)

Reed Canary Grass*

Ribbon Grass

Running Bamboo

Shrubs

Asian Bush Honeysuckle (all taxa)#

Buckthorn

Euonymus, including Burning Bush**#

Fire of the Prairie**

Japanese Barberry

Sumac

Jetbead

Multiflora Rose

Privet

Ribbon Grass

Trees

Black Locust*

Euonymus**

Norway Maple

Olive

Ornamental Pear (Callery: all cultivars, including Bradford:  many decorative pear cultivars can cross-pollinate and be spread by birds. #**

Russian Olive

Siberian Elm

Tree of Heaven

White Mulberry

Woody Vines and Groundcover

Asian Wisteria

Cat’s Paw

Chocolate Vine

Euonymus **#

English Ivy

Honeysuckle Vine

Kudzu

Ornamental Bittersweet

Periwinkle

Porcelain Berry

Trumpet Vine

Wild Grape*

Wintercreeper (See Euonymus)**#

 

 Resources: 

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species

https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/heritage-data-center/invasive-plant-species/

Purdue University:  Official List of Invasive Species, Indiana

https://www.entm.purdue.edu

Indiana Native Plant Society

Protection of Native Plants

https://indiananativeplants.org

Indianapolis Star: “Indiana Invasive Plants Lurking in your Backyard”

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2021/09/08/indiana-invasive-plants-lurking-your-backyard/5413743001/

A Thanks to Our Volunteers from the Landscape Committee

VISION: Create a balance between cultivated and natural landscapes that enhances both the physical environment and property values while meeting fiscal obligations.

The Landscape Committee (LC) is all about property values and supports that vision through the following initiatives.

  • The most important job of the committee is to review all landscape requests from homeowners. A *confidential* majority email vote of the members is the recommendation then presented to the Board of Directors for an official decision.
  • A seasonal newsletter reaches out to Windridge homeowners with garden tips for native plantings and ways individual homeowners can help to improve our property values. Please look for future links to the Windridge Newsletters – coming soon!
  • In the Spring and Fall, the LC also organizes a Saturday workday and invites all our neighbors to help with clean-up, weeding, and the on-going project of eliminating invasive honeysuckle.
  • The most visible event, launched in June 2022, was the *first* Windridge Garden Tour showcasing seven beautiful gardens. It was successful in every way with plans to make it an annual event.

 

We invite your participation and if you are interested in joining the committee, we ask that you:

  • Adopt one of the 30 Common Area gardens that we tend. Those include the front and back entrance gates, the Sun Garden on White Marsh, the Shade Garden on Whisperwood and many other *corner* gardens.
  • Commit to participating in the frequent *confidential* review of landscape requests;
  • Care for your own garden in the Limited Common Area around your home;
  • Join in the Saturday workdays as you are able;
  • Help with the Garden Tour; and
  • Attend two meetings annually convened to choose responsibility for the Common Area garden spots and discuss common nature related topics.

This is a can-do group of people, and the best part is that the group is made up of gardeners who know and share their knowledge helping us all to be better stewards of Mother Earth. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact HOA Liaison, Beverly Watkins at b9watkins@gmail.com.

FAQs

What makes condo living different from homeownership?

Windridge has enjoyed a 50-year reputation as a beautiful, tree-lined neighborhood because of the cooperation of its owners. Here are new condo concepts to understand:

The lawn around each home is known as Common Area and Limited Common Area is immediately adjacent to the condo. This means there are restrictions on walkways, fences, driveways, plant material, and the exterior surfaces of your condo.  

Private homeowners are accustomed to being able to: paint the front door, remove or replace a shrub, install a flagpole, install a new garage door, create a new garden, select a new outside light fixture, build or remove a fence, install awnings or patio covers, install a satellite dish, or place ornaments on the lawn or in gardens.

With condo ownership, owners accept jointly owned guidelines knowing that there many ways to personalize your home with the proposal/approval process if you choose to live in this lovely neighborhood.

As previous homeowners, many of us are accustomed to doing the following things without giving it much thought:

 

 

Which condos are currently for sale?

Windridge is a diverse community that welcomes ALL. With 221 condominiums that reflect a wide variety of sizes and architectural styles, floor plans range from townhouse to ranch.  About 30% are free-standing units while the remainder are clustered throughout our rolling grounds in groups of 2-5 attached homes. Many condos, in fact, feature walk-out lower levels with “Brown County” views over dense woods or ravines.

Below is a link to the listing of condos currently for sale.

Condos for Sale in Windridge CLICK HERE

 

What makes Windridge different from other Indianapolis condo communities?

UNITS WIDELY VARY IN STYLE AND SIZE:  While most condo communities offer owners a choice among only a few floor plans, Windridge was developed with a completely different intent.  Occupying 72 acres, Windridge’s 221 condominiums reflect a wide variety of sizes and architectural styles. About 30% of the condos are are free-standing, while the remainder are clustered in groups of 2-5 attached homes. Floor plans range from townhouse to multi-story ranch and vary in size from approximately 1,600 to 4,000 sq. ft.  Many of the homes also feature walk-out lower levels or decks that open onto quiet wooded areas.  (The lovely grounds of Laurel Hall add an additional 10 acres.)

SURROUNDED BY NATURAL BEAUTY:  Windridge’s unusual natural setting provides owners with “Brown County” views with dense forest and ravines.  Bordering Fall Creek, wild life is abundant.  Owners often mention that the natural beauty is one of the main reasons they selected Windridge to be their home.  

VERY CENTRALLY LOCATED:   Windridge is no more than a short 20 minute drive from Monument Circle in the center of downtown Indianapolis, a 15 minute drive to the commercial corridor on 86th Street,  and a ten minute drive to Broad Ripple, and the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

ONSITE PROPERTY MANAGER AND MAINTENANCE STAFF:  Unlike many condo communities, Windridge owners enjoy easy access to the community’s Property Manager and Staff.  When an issue arises, Staff can address it in a timely fashion (including immediately if necessary).

 

This condo community truly is like no other in the metro area.  For photos of a sampling of Windridge condos, CLICK HERE.

For the full history of Windridge, CLICK HERE.

What Association fees do Windridge Owners pay?

Association fees paid by owners are determined by the total interior square feet of the owner’s specific condo.   Since the condos vary widely in size, fees also vary accordingly.

Fees cover a wide range of services critical to ensuring that the community retains its beauty and enjoyable quality of life.  The Association is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all exteriors of the units, driveways, roofs, and all plumbing exterior to the units. In addition, the Association maintains concrete walkways, roadway maintenance/snow removal, and driveways, including snow/leaf removal.  The Association is also responsible for maintaining the Common Areas of the grounds.  (Owners are responsible for maintaining any plantings that border their condo, skylights, garage doors, decks, patios, windows, and non-concrete walkways).  In addition, the Association covers water and sewer costs, as well as Common Area landscaping and tree removal.

The Board of Directors is committed to avoiding additional capital assessments, except under very unusual circumstances. 

How financially secure is the Windridge Condo Association?

Very.   The Board of Directors develops both an operating and a substantial long term reserve budget, both of which are carefully planned and monitored to ensure that the community is well maintained.

The operating budget is used to cover the Association’s typical ongoing expenses, while the reserve budget is developed to ensure that sufficient funds are available to cover expensive periodic maintenance projects (e.g. roofing, road paving, painting and maintenance of condo exteriors,  driveway and walkway maintenance,

The annual  budgeting process is designed to ensure that condo fees are carefully calibrated and minimize the need for capital assessments, except under very unusual circumstances.

Detailed financial information is available for review at the Association Office (317-251-7861).

Does the Association have a list of rules and regulations that owners must follow?

Like all condo communities, Windridge is governed by a list of Rules and Regulations (as well as Association Bylaws) that have been carefully developed over the years to ensure that the community’s overall quality of life is preserved and enhanced.   The Rules are kept to a minimum, but cover such matters as vehicles, work request procedures, parking regulations, permitted decorative objects and landscaping.

To examine all Association Bylaws and Regulations, CLICK HERE.

How centrally located is Windridge?

In addition to being only a short drive from downtown Indianapolis, Windridge is only 15-20 minutes’ drive from the Fashion Mall at Keystone at the Crossing, Castleton, Broad Ripple, Geist, Fort Harrison, and the 82nd St. – 86th St. commercial corridor.  Shopping, churches, scores of restaurants, entertainment – it’s all close by.

Are owners permitted to make changes to the exterior or interiors of the condos?

The Owners are of course permitted to make changes to the interiors of their condos as long as those changes do not compromise the structural integrity of the unit.  In addition, owners are permitted to make cosmetic changes to the exterior of their condos, as long as those changes are in keeping with the general style of the community.  In both cases, architectural changes to the interior or exterior must be approved by the Association Board.   Note that individual yards cannot be electrified or fenced. In addition, note that Windridge Covenants does not permit any changes that enlarge the original footprint of a condo unit, including decks and patios.     

What level of resident turnover does Windridge typically experience?

The overwhelming majority of owners stay for many years.   Once owners move to Windridge, they rarely see a reason to move elsewhere. It is not uncommon for owners to move within Windridge community as their needs change.

What relationship does Laurel Hall have to the Windridge condo community?

Beautiful Laurel Hall, one of the most extraordinary mansions in the Midwest, now serves as the national headquarters for Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.  The Fraternity has a strong commitment to maintaining this historic structure and, as a result, the mansion is one of region’s most sought-after sites for weddings and celebratory events.   The Fraternity and the Association maintain a very friendly and cooperative relationship that benefits all.

Throughout the year, the Association will occasionally hold important meetings at the mansion.

Are residents permitted to have pets?

Yes. Dogs, cats, and all common pets are permitted. All pet owners must follow Marion County/City of Indianapolis ordinances, including but not limited to, keeping the pet outside on a sturdy leash. The pet must be in direct line of sight and the owner must clean up the waste. Dog houses and Common Area electric or structured fences are not permitted.