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Lots to talk about this month -- spring is HERE and our ponds are ready to start growing again. Get your pump(s) going, if you had shut them down. This should be done right after ice out. This increases the oxygen content of our water, which we all know is the most important consideration in our water gardens.
The next thing to do is add Barley Straw to your water to control string algae (this is also called blanket weed or filamentous algae -- it adheres to the rocks, liner etc). I am certain that this will work for control as long as it is placed in the right conditions in the pond. It HAS to be placed in a very high oxygen concentrated area -- like under the waterfalls or in a biofalls box, if you have one.
I am making a trip up to K & K Gardens (one of our Fountains) to pick up 10 to 15 normal sized bales that Keith had bought for us last fall. I will have these available for our membership at our April meeting. I am figuring that the cost will be only for my expenses in getting the bales and Keith's costs. Should be very inexpensive. Remember we had thought about a trip to Nebraska to get some from a source out there -- well, Keith found these at a very good price and snatched them up for us. Saves us a bunch of mileage. Thanks Keith.
Okay, now to talk about our Plant Sale. Well last year we did not get as many plants from our membership that we had hoped. Consequently we sold out of plants very early in the day. This year, Kenn Outzen, our plant sale coordinator is asking for more of our members to divide and share. This can make our organization some dollars to support our sponsoring of Reiman Gardens interns and to sponsor guest speakers.
To help you in the dividing process I am conducting a plant repotting/division workshop at The Woodsmith Store in Des Moines on Tuesday, the 27th of April. There is more on this elsewhere in this newsletter.
As for more on the plant sale, Kenn will supplement the sale with boughten plants. We will have some very unique plants and plenty of them. The more plants you bring the more we save in purchasing plants.
Darla Kickbush is working on a very exciting bus trip for us in June. She has lined up the Water's Edge (Deb Spencer's) business in Lawrence, KS and Powell Gardens in the same area so far. Most of you know of my passion for visiting the Water's Edge. It is a very unique store that everything that a water gardener may even dream about for plants and supplies. I am sure that Deb will be there to answer any questions. Make sure you check out Darla's plans in this newsletter.
Now, I want to talk about the Hog Roast we have planned for Tuesday, the 25th of May at Skycrest Gardens. Jim Jordan has a hog roaster that does a fantastic job of cooking. The meat will be very tender and plenty of it. Of course, we will have the rest of the fixings for a good meal. In talking with Tom and Marilyn, they thought that later in the month will assure us of a good chance of having warmer weather. Tom will have plenty of plants for sale that night. Skycrest Gardens is a very dedicated Fountain of Supporter for our Association and has been from the start of our organization. By having our hog roast there we are showing Tom and Marilyn of our dedication to them. Mark your calenders and then bring your lawn chairs on the 25th of May.
Okay, now for our meeting on the 12th of April at 7:00 pm. Mia Keske from Texas is coming to present a program on Water Garden Additives. She works for Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and has been for a number of years. She originally started working for them in Minneapolis and recently moved to Texas. Her parents are still in Minnesota and she is planning a trip back here to visit them and give a presentation to us.
The meeting location is different this month. The Alliant Facility, the Ames Public Library, and Reiman Garden meeting rooms are booked. Soooooo.... I was able to arrange the Collegiate United Methodist Church at 2622 Lincolnway in Ames. They have an excellent meeting room that is very inexpensive (free, but they do ask for a donation). The church is located between US Bank and Taco Bell in Campus Town. It is across from Friley Hall. Go into the parking lot off Hayward (the Ark Pet Center is the opposite direction). Then enter in the west door and take a sharp left after you get in the door.
I am anxious to meet Mia and hear her presentation. I was given Mia's name by another water garden association President and she said that she does a very good job.
One last item, Reiman Gardens has become an even better partner for us. Because of our commitment in donations and help, the Garden meeting facilities are for our use at no charge. We will be meeting there in future meetings. We, also, will be arranging special presentations there that both of us will be promoting. Remember Deb Spencer's talk? Well the excellent facilities cost us a fee. Now, they want to work with us on bringing in speakers and the facilities will be provided, free. We will be paying to get the speakers here and they will provide the facilities. Now, that is a partner -- Thank You Reiman Gardens.
Hope to see everybody at the meeting.
The Big Toad, Jamie