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Our ponding season is basically over and I hope everyone has their ponds ready for winter -- or close to it. We've had some great turnouts at all three chapter's meetings covering the topic of overwintering. I also did the same program to the Northern Iowa Water Garden Society in Cedar Falls.
As a footnote to the program I would suggest the addition of an air-check valve on the output of your air pump (place it on the air line right by the pump). This will prevent water from entering your air line if the power goes out. If the water would enter (without the air check valve), it would freeze and then when the power returns, it is froze and the air line is plugged. This was a great suggestion from a member of the Polk County Chapter. Of course, if the air line did plug with ice it is easy to replace it with another but this step can be avoided with the air check.
The Water Garden Tour Committee is already very busy with planning on the July tour. We are presently lining up gardens for the tour and are interested in anyone who is interested in placing their garden on the tour. The gardens need to be in the Ames, Huxley, Cambridge, Alleman areas for the Ames leg of the tour. For the Des Moines leg, the gardens need to be in the south half of Des Moines, Indianola, and Norwalk areas. We have already lined up many gardens but want your suggestions. Please contact John Selin, Greg Knop, or me with your suggestions. Feel free to suggest your own garden if you want. This tour, by the way, is the largest garden tour in the state.
I hope that everyone remembers Deb Jetter from Ankeny who was on the 2002 Pond Tour. She sends her greetings and thanks to everyone that helped to get her garden ready to go for the tour. She says that this last summer, her lotus bloomed profusely and she spent many hours by the pond. She is very proud of her garden and it really gives her a lot of comfort in thinking about it. Deb is not able to get to her garden as much now as she would like but she has those memories. I thought that any kind of cards and letters would be most welcome by Deb. Her address is 6924 Berwick Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021. I was not able to see Deb's garden this year. One of the things that I do remember most of Deb's garden was not only her pond but also her bubbling personality that really makes you feel welcome. I also remember that her pond also overlooked another pond that was really a very nice farm pond.
Okay, for the meeting program on Monday, November 10. Let's have a round table discussion of "The Perfect Pond Design". Of course, there is not one overall design that will fit all landscapes but there are elements that are common that need to be included in every design. This is a chance to give your opinions on what would be a good idea to include in most designs. Things you may have had success with or things that you think may be a good idea. I am really looking forward to all the ideas that we can all learn from. Round table means everyone will have a chance to give their views that want. I will insure that the discussion proceeds without "dead times". The meeting starts at 7:00 PM at the Alliant facility. Hope to see everybody there.
The Big Toad, Jamie