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The Polk County Chapter met this week at DMF Gardens. DMF is a major grower/supplier of pond plants in this area. It was a very interesting tour. Larry Miller the manager gave us a complete tour and a demonstration of how they divide plants for sale. We want to thank Larry and DMF Gardens for taking the time to show us their operations. We also want to thank them for the plant each of us received at the end of the tour.
Our next meeting is September 23, 7:00, at the home of Ed and Mary Furry in Ankeny. Jamie Beyer will speak on over wintering our ponds. This is a critical element in the life cycle of our ponds and should be a timely topic for us all.
The Furry's live at 804 SE Kensington Road in Ankeny. From I35 take the Ankeny Industrial exit and go west to Delaware Ave. Turn right (north) on Delaware. Go past the Super Target and watch for Kensington Road. Turn left onto Kensington and proceed to 804.
Remember to bring a lawn chair. We will be on the patio or in the garage.
The Top of Iowa Water Garden Association met in Grafton on August 19, 2002 at the home of Rose Kruger. Rose affectionately refers to her water garden as her "cement pond". It is a beautiful, natural looking water garden with a limestone path that beckons one to follow and enjoy the vast array of flowers and grasses encircling the garden, house and backyard.
President Ed Schroeder called the meeting to order. Minutes were read and accepted as corrected (I'll get it right one of these days.) Twenty-seven of our 36 members were present.
Old Business: Members talked about the Ames and Lake Mills water garden tours. Members reported Ames had some beautiful gardens. Many of the gardens were expensive. Lake Mills featured a different artist at each garden. It was suggested that it would be nice to have a variety of priced gardens if we have a tour.
Suggestions regarding liquid refreshments were: phase it out, have the host supply the drinks or purchase a gallon container. We will probably take a hand written vote at a future meeting.
Back to the Ames meeting, members said people were worried about the fish exchange because of bacteria that was killing fish. Different methods of how to adapt fish to your pond were discussed.
Upcoming Meetings: Bart Pals is checking into using the Extension Office in Garner for the October meeting and the Learning Center at the MC Fairgrounds for the January meeting. Remember, we will not meet in November and December.
Our next meeting will be Monday, September 16, at the home of Bob and Ruth Baack who will also furnish the drinks and refreshments. You won't want to miss this. Bob has plants he grows and trims each year to form unique sculptures ranging from a monkey in a tree, to a 5' long elephant with a 4' trunk and a man pushing a wheelbarrow. If that isn't enough to entice you, Jamie Beyer (President of the Ames club) will present a program on winterizing your pond. Directions: Take Hwy 18 to Britt. Turn south by the Kum and Go. Go to 7th Street. Make a right hand turn and go to the 4 way stop. Their house is the house on the corner with lots of flowers -- 685 5th Avenue SW.
New Business: Bart stated he buys feed by the bulk and brought some to sell. Rose passed around a book on Caruth figures. The barley straw for the Ames club came in. Rose will bring nametags to the next meeting. We talked about ways to winter water lettuce and hyacinths, iris and other fauna.
Upon Adjournment, Ed Schroeder presented a great program. He brought an old inner tube, light bulb, reflector and a few other supplies and showed us how with little cost, we could keep our ponds open during the cold winter months. He also shared his method for making an aqua filter. It was suggested that at the October meeting Ed could help those interested in making their own filters.
On a final note, my BIG mistake in last month's newsletter was incorrectly stating a member heard frogs croaking and the first frost would be six weeks away. It was suppose to be locusts or katydids. I'm a city girl, what can I say. Sorry about that Bob!
Hope to see everyone on September 16!
All interested parties are welcome to join. For further information contact Ed Schroeder at 641-923-3512 or Mary Schultz at 641-424-9247 or mschultz47@mchsi.com.