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The last month has really been a difficult time for all of my family and me. As you may already know my Mother passed away on April 17. My sister and I were at her bedside and I had her hand in mine when she passed. I have found this to be really difficult to write but I must so that you know why I may not be myself.
She was always with me in my thoughts and she still is. Her unfailing support of her family and me was something to be truly admired. She was the fish feeder at Bethany Manor for a couple years after so many Association members built that pond. She was feeding the fish that her son had brought to the pond. Of course, it was her son that built the pond??!! We all know the dedication of so many people to get that pond built and she recognized that but still she supported me to the highest extent even if she had to stretch the truth. She was not able to feed the fish last year due to her failing health but she wanted to.
Denise, my better half, was not able to be at my Mother's funeral due to her being at her Mother's side in Texas after open-heart surgery only a day before my Mother passed. On the day of my mother's funeral, her mother was close to death. The emotions that she and I were dealing with on that day were beyond anything we had experienced before. Her Mother is doing better and Denise is coming home today (May 1). One of Denise's sisters is by her side now.
I really appreciate all the letters and cards from so many CIWGA friends. Thank You.
Now, I need to get focused on our upcoming meeting on May 9. I do apologize for the tardiness of my report to Lisa. That is the reason you may be getting this a little late.
Nathan Brockman, the entomologist and butterfly wing curator at Reiman Gardens, is really eager to spread the word about aquatic insects in and around the water garden. Nathan was one of the featured speakers at our water garden symposium last March. He was such a hit that I thought that for those of you that were not able to come we would have him do the talk to our membership. After calling him he was so delighted to have the opportunity that he is jumping through hoops to get to us this May. He definitely wants to do this presentation this spring so that we can relate and apply some of his ideas immediately. Since he gave his talk in March he has really gone off the deep end (so to speak) and has been "experimenting" with a lot of critters at his home in aquariums. He tells me that he has so much more information and ideas. The water gardening "bug" has really bitten Nathan - like so many of us.
The narrative that went out to advertise Nathan's talk in March was "Discover the hidden world of aquatic insects. Learn about the amazing insects that inhabit aquatic environments and how they "keep afloat" in such a habitat. Explore the benefits and uses of aquatic insects in creating a well-rounded pond ecosystem. Learn how to collect, maintain and recognize of the aquatic insects in your pond".
Believe me his talk was all of this and more. And - he tells me that he has added a lot more info to the talk on propagating the good insects. He has even come with a great idea of creating a special environment just for those critters. I do not want to steal his thunder so I will stop at that. Nathan is truly dedicated to world of insects and his enthusiasm is infectious.
The meeting on the 9th will start at 7:00 PM at Reiman Gardens in the Spear Room.
The Central Iowa Tour of Water Gardens is taking shape. All of the tour gardens have been arranged and believe me we have some great ones to show off. For those of you that want to volunteer on those days to help out, please contact Carol Scheid at 641-377-2648. Carol is also our Membership secretary and also has agreed to be one of the host gardens for the tour.
Hope to see everybody on the 9th.
The Big Toad, Jamie