I first want to mention that it is very important to save extra plants for our plant exchange at the next meeting. They do not necessarily have to be water plants so bring any and all divisions of water garden plants/perennials/annuals. Please share your extra plant material so that other members can benefit. Our fund raising effort will only be as successful as what our members make it.


The members' only plant exchange will be held at the 3M Building on Monday, May 14th. (Map is included in this newsletter). Kenn Outzen and Dean Koob will be doing a program on water garden plants right after the exchange. We think the program can be held outside of the bldg. but the weather will dictate this.


Show up with your plants between 6:00 and 6:30 but the earlier the better. It will give us time to get the plants in an orderly fashion. The plant sale will start at 6:30. Also, popcorn and a water garden video will be going on -- so if you show up early then you will be entertained. We'll start the video at 5:45.


Please place your plants into small plastic bags with the name on it (if known). If you don't know the name then describe the bloom &/or plant. Questions can be answered by Kenn or Dean at 515/292-4823. Of course, you can call me if you can't get a hold of them.


On another note -- the meeting in Des Moines was very successful. We had about 30 ponderers there and they were very anxious to hear about our Association. Doug Riech did a great job of organizing this so hats off to him for the effort. Larry Arnould, owner of Aqualand in Des Moines, was there and brought a huge number of door prizes so a lot of people went home with one. Thank you Larry!!


We are at the stage now of determining of how to organize all the Des Moines ponderers so that they don't have to make the trip to Ames for every meeting. We'll be talking more about this in the near future.


This meeting coming up we will be voting on our bylaws so please check them out and give Lisa or me a call for comments or suggestions. You can check out the proposed bylaws on our web site or we will be glad to mail you a copy, if you request it.


Plans are being laid for the water garden tour -- so if you want your pond on the tour, now is the time to speak up before it is too late. Please contact me if you want to participate.


Until the plant exchange,


Jamie -- the Big Toad acting like a President