Happy Thanksgiving!
With the holiday’s right around the corner, I want to wish you and, your families all the gifts and treasures for the coming year.

We had such a great time at the Halloween-Tiki Tour. It was chilly, however the way Gary & Marcy Brown had the food line set, there was no wind that caused us any problems. They had 2 huge fire pits going so all of us really were quite comfortable. The Chili was umm-umm good; they had 4 huge crock-pots full. They had mild, spicy and vegetarian chilies. Everyone had his or her choice! The Brown's worked very hard to keep us all comfortable.

From there we went to Jim Silzell's home for desserts. Oh my gosh did I say chocolate! and cheese cakes, brownies, cookies, homemade apple pie, and to wash it down homemade hot coco. We then played Halloween games; such as Halloween bingo and charades. The winners got Halloween candies. After the games each member got a brown bag full of Halloween treats.

We then had a raffle with 7 wonderful prizes that were given away. After all the games, raffles and the food was eaten we had the drawing for our wonderful pond products basket, and the winner was Dale & Shelia Swanson, needless to say they were excited, the basket was worth almost $300.00, the products were donated by the Springfield Water garden society, Tropical Waterscapes, and O’Quinn’s Water gardens.

You know guys it takes a lot of hard work by our hosts to get their homes, gardens & ponds ready for us. We certainly can show our thanks by letting them know how much we appreciate their hard efforts. The club would like to thank those club members who worked hard to put this together for us. First of all our hosts Gary & Marcy Brown and Jim Silzell. Then the behind the scenes people who helped our hosts was Ann Weisz, she did a lot of the shopping and also helped Jim make deserts, Pat Ware got the trick or treat prizes, made up the games, her hubby Alan also helped, Guinn Wolfe also helped with the trick or treat prizes, Ken & Mini Grozinger, helped with the shopping and paid the bills, Mimi baked the wonderful homemade apple pie! And a little goblin by the name of Enoc helped with the games. So as you can plainly see it takes a lot of hard work! So many thanks to those members who attended our fun party.

We are so sorry that the regular monthly meeting was rained out. And boy was it rained out. Springfield Airport reported between 7-9 inches of rain fell in Springfield, Billings and Republic reported over 10 inches. Nixa and, Ozark had over 12 inches. Table Rock Lake rose 6.5 feet because of the run off and flooding! What was so tragic was 3 precious teenagers from Willard were killed. When we have weather conditions like these, canceling is the safest thing to do. We couldn't meet outside for sure. Dave & Helen Simmons like the rest of us don't have room for a large group of people.

Always feel free to call me if there is ever any doubt about canceling. I had talked to Dave and told him we would make a determination by 4:00 p.m. whether to cancel or have the meeting. Well with thunder, lightening and city streets being closed due to flooding we had no other choice, but to cancel. So we are sorry, but, my gosh all that rain. Dave had a very informative program planned for us, so as of right now we will try and have that program rescheduled for Jan.

Don’t forget to re-up on your dues for the upcoming year. Come to our meeting and pay your dues then.

November Program
When: Thursday Nov. 12th 7:00 p.m.

Where: St. John’s Cancer Center, 2055 S. Fremont.

Program: DYI centerpieces for the holidays. Homemade Baskets by Fern

Fellow member Fern Taggett will be bringing her wonderful assortment of hand made basket! Oh, my, gosh they are spectacular! She will bring some products that she makes her baskets out of. Some will be for sale. Just in time for the holidays. We will then enjoy a fun program how to make holiday centerpieces.

Directions: The Cancer Center is at 2055 S. Fremont. Fremont is the first stop light east of National and Sunshine, turn south or right on S. Fremont the cancer center is on the West side of Fremont. The meeting room is upstairs.

We will have several items on our program agenda. Don't miss it we will have lots of fun. We will have stuff for the holidays! Be there.

Also would be a great time to re-up on your dues for 2010.

Christmas Party

Christmas party will be at Garden Adventures in Nixa on December the 10^th. Their shop is big enough for all of our guest and us. What FOOD & GAMES! I will give you more info in the next newsletter.

The Christmas Party of course involves food. We ask you to bring your favorite finger food or a yummy dessert; the club will provide the plates, silver ware, and drinks. We will also have some presents for everyone. I thought it might be fun to do a member to member gift swap also, so let's do a favorite homemade cookie or homemade bread, Jelly's or Jam's and we will place them on tables and each member can swap their goodies any food that you make to swap.

Also one thing that I ask each member to do is bring a food item for our homeless four legged friends. Homeless animals need our help. With the economy the way it is hundreds of poor helpless pets are dumped and left to starve to death, so if you can find it in your hearts to spend a couple of bucks, I know lots of rescue organizations that could use your help. Any canned or dry food for cats or dogs, kittens and puppies, they all love treats, flea controls are greatly needed, of course cash works wonders.

Lots of things to remember to bring for our Christmas party, one last thing Dow Whitening our host will give a quickie program on selecting and care for your live Christmas tree.

Road Trip!

We are planning a road trip to Sandstone in Joplin. If you have not been there you in for a treat it’s a gardener’s heaven. What ever you can dream of they have it. The most beautiful one of kind statues, pedestals, fountains, containers, and arbors. Anything that has to do with decorating your gardens they have it. They will be decorated for the holidays. All you need is your own transportation or you can carpool, and money! We are going to meet on Saturday December the 5th at the new Sam's Club on South Campbell at 11:30 A.M.

You will need to call or email Marcy Brown and let her know if you are going to join in the fun. Her phone # is 417-2246198 or email her at piggypoodo@yahoo.com by November the 28th.

This will be so much fun and oh my goodness what a fun place to go Christmas shopping. Bring a guest and share in the fun!

A Gift for the Members

As a little Christmas present the club is going to give our members and their family members that own their own businesses or provide services, free advertising in our club newsletter and club web-site for 2 months. January & February will be free advertising.

WE don't have room for anything big and splashy. Just send me your name or family member’s name, the name of the business, address, phone number and e-mails. This is to help our home-owned businesses, keep the money here in our communities. To heck with the big box stores, on-line warehouses, show our community support.

So send me all your vital stats this is a great gift to help our members, their families and it doesn't make any difference what the business is, from baby setting to setting hair, working on computers, cars, planting trees to cutting them down. Cleaning houses or drains, painting a room or grooming a dog. Selling a house or renting one out. I think you all get the idea. Call me at 417 8832399 or email me at 63linda@crawler.com

More Wintering info
I would like to add more wintering info. If you have any tropical plants of course they should be inside by now. If you have cannas, you can take the plant from the pot, cut off the foliage, clean off the dirt and the tuber air dry for about 7-10 days, be sure and cut the roots off, then store in a cool, dry, dark area. If you have Taro's do them the same way as the cannas. If you papyrus, umbrella palms, cut the foliage back about half way, then keep the plant warm, moist and bright light. You can keep the plants in a container with standing water or just keep them moist. Do not fertilize them.

If you have any of the floaters just throw them away, they are difficult to keep over.

To winterize your tropical water lily's; cut the pads back, depot the plant, clean off the tuber and leave the roots intact, let air dry for 10-14 days, cut the roots off and then you can store the tuber in a zip-lock bag, a Tupperware container, a jar with an air-tight lid. Store in a cool, dry area. The reason you want to store some of your tropical plants in cool dry area is we don't want the plant to germinate. If you keep it warm and wet guess what it's going to start growing just like it does in the spring, we don't want that. One more piece of advice, after you have cleaned and de-rooted your tubers dust them with a good fungicide so that you won't run the risk of encouraging a bacteria infection in your plants.

If you have any questions about over wintering your plants please feel free to call anytime. Linda

I’m so Confused!
There is some confusion as to what a pond de-icer or a pond heater is. The difference is
a pond heater will not heat your water. It is incapable of doing that. These mislabeled and miss-quoted appliances can be very confusing. These appliances float in the water. De-icers that are used for your ponds have a pre-set thermostat, these are factory set. They kick off and kick on a pre-set temps. The de-icers that are used for pond will use approx. 120-150 watts of electricity. Now here is more confusion, appliances that farmer use in their stock tanks will keep openings in the ice, but the amount of electricity they use is extremely high, they will use from 1,500-3,000 watts of electricity and they run 24-7.

Both of these appliances are made to keep a single opening in the ice to let natural gases that occur in your water vent out. This is what will kill fish. Farmers are trying to keep their livestock watered so their needs are different than the needs of our ponds. So the appliances are for different reasons.

Up Coming Meetings and Places
Because the Cancer Center is a ‘no charge’ for the room, many club and groups also reserve the center. We will meet at the center in November. December we go to Garden Adventures for our Christmas Party. January’s meeting will be at the Cancer Center. The February meeting we could meet with the Master Gardener’s, they meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month or we can go to another location. March meeting will be at Machino’s it will be our regular meeting night. In other words February and March were taken by other groups, sorry but beggars or freebies can't gripe. We will have a lot of fun at Machino’s. Will keep you posted on the February meeting.

Still Feeding Fish
I am finishing this letter on Sunday Oct.25th and I am still feeding my fish, I am feeding once a day and I’m feeding 1/2 of the usual amount. I check the water temps daily.
Call me if you have any questions about winterizing your pond.

Host A Meeting in 2010

I am taking names for members who would like to host a meeting in 2010.
April is already spoken for we are going to the Gary and Marcy Brown's in Ozark, so that leaves May-October. Also don't forget to sign up for the pond tour.

If you host for any of the meetings or host for the public pond tour your dues are compted for the next year. Oh, my, gosh 2011!!!!!!

Reminders
#1 Read the Newsletter from beginning to end
#2 Pay your dues
#3 If you or a family member own your own business of provide a service you can get 2 months free advertising in the newsletter, January & February 2010
#4 Attend the November meeting this will be such a fun night as always bring a guest.

OCTOBER 2009

Happy Halloween to all you spooks!
I heard from a little Koi birdie that there was a fun party at Alan & Pat Ware's, with lots of good food and prizes for the winners of a treasure hunt. Thanks Alan & Pat for a good time had by all. I had to miss because of the Japanese Fall festival.

The October meeting will be Thursday October 8th at 7:00 p.m. at Dave and Helen Simmons. The program will be 2 parts, Dave will show us how to repair broken concrete pieces, (i.e., statues, concrete bird baths, containers), this will be a real money saver for all of us who have a treasured concrete piece and do not want to toss it. I will demonstrate how to get your plants ready for winter Boo Hum bug but it's gotta be done.

An added bonus this month we are having a Halloween party-Tiki Tour this month. It is Sat Oct the 17th we will meet at Gary & Marcy Brown's for chili-hotdogs-drinks and each member will get a trick or treat bag courtesy of the club. Be there at 6:00 p.m. Then at 8:00 or so we will leave the Brown's and caravan to Jim Silzell's for deserts.

I am going to bring the pond goodie basket to Dave and Helen's to sell chances for $5.00 each, I will then take the basket to Gary & Marcy's for additional sales, we will then have the final drawing at Jim's for the winner. There is several hundred dollars worth of pond products in the basket. I will have the correct total at the Simmons’s.

Now there is a hitch to everything…in order to have the right amount of trick or treat bags and enough food and drinks for every one we must have a R.S.V.P. Please, Please call me by Tuesday the 13th. As always bring a friend and your own chairs for both get-togethers.

Mark your calendars for the 8th and the 17^th; we don't want any of you to miss a thing. Again make sure and R.S.V.P for the 17th.

Dues
It's getting to be that time of the year again to renew your dues. There are no changes in the price; $20.00 for a family membership if you take your newsletter by mail, and if you take your newsletter by E-Mail the cost is $15.00. So save $5.00. You can pay at either meeting.

November Meeting
We have some fun things planned for the rest of the year. November meeting will be inside at St. John’s Cancer Center. I have a fun meeting planned, a fellow member makes the most breath taking baskets you have ever seen, she is going to bring some for talk and sell, we are then going to have a program on making your own floral center pieces for the holidays, however here is a change in things instead of using flowers the center pieces a made of fruits and vegetable, ah ha got your interest up they are gorgeous, it's the new rage! Kevin Timsey who is a friend makes these wonderful pieces, he used to be a floral designer for Price Cutters Grocery, and you won't want to miss this meeting, Fun to be had by everyone.

Halloween party and Tiki Tour
Be sure and remember to R.S.V.P. for the Halloween-Tiki Tour party.
Call me by Tuesday the 13th at 417-883-2399. And before I forget you don't bring anything but yourselves, friends and chairs to both places.
Fall into Winter
I realize a lot of you know how to winterize your ponds, however we have newbies and this will be their first winter. We are also privileged enough that many non-members click onto our club web site for info and updates. We are flattered to have them.
Winterizing your pond correctly is one of the most important parts of being a pond owner. If ever you have any questions please call me at 417 883-2399 anytime.

Let's get ready to winter!
Understanding how to transition the pond through the season is very important for you and your pond. With the right techniques and products, the change is easy. Follow the guidelines below to understand the process.

Prepping your pond for winter is one of the most important things you can do for your pond. As air temperatures start to drop so do water temps. During this temperature change, the needs of the fish are altering as well. It is very important to protect fish from their changing surroundings including falling debris and decaying leaves. Be sure and take some extra time with your pond if this is your first fall/winter. It is probable that you may not beware of what needs to be done and why. I will try and make this as painless as possible.

In most parts of the nation water temps start to drop in late September and early October. Make sure you have a pond thermometer so you can monitor the pond temps,
Remember your fish do not have a calendar. Prepare your fish by making sure you are using a fall/spring fish food or a fish food with a wheat germ base. It is highly digestible in all water temps. This is especially important because in the colder months, fish’s metabolism and the pond's ammonia-reducing biological activity are greatly diminished.
Fall months are the time to get your pond clean and ready for winter. Clean your pond before water temps fall below 50 degrees. This is recommended since the fish are still active and less likely to sustain injuries during the cleaning.

Scoop up any leaves that have fallen into the pond. You may want to pump some of the ponds water below your planting shelves so that you can easily clean any leaves that may have accumulated around the plant containers. This is also a great time to cut back and trim your marginal plants for winter you can use a hose to blast off any debris, or use a wet-dry vac. When replacing the water make sure to add your de-clor and hit your pond with friendly bacteria.

Once the pond is clean, now is a good time to add a pond net. If there are trees anywhere in the area the netting will protect your pond from large amounts of falling leaves and other blowing debris that can settle in your pond. Fasten your pond thermometer on the edge or you pond so you can easily check the water temps. Securely fasten your netting on a P.V.C. frame or a wooden frame, using twist ties or fishing line, suspend the netted frame at least 12 inches above the water table.
Plant life can also be a source of debris. As marginal plants and the deep-water plants being to die back, prune the dead stems and leaves to prevent decay in the water during the winter.

Before the first frost make sure all your tropical plants are either discarded or placed in warm areas for winter. Marginal plants may remain on the shelves with the exception of Pickerel Rush this plant should be placed in the deep part of the pond next to your water lily's.

When should you shut down your filters, pumps, and U.V. lights? This is the $64,000 question. When the night temps are consistently in the 30's that is your time to winterize your pond appliances. Bring your U.V.'s inside, any box or pressure filters that are free standing they should be brought inside as per the manufactures directions. If the box filters are to large to bring inside or break down, then disconnect them from the discharge hose to your pump and, cover the top of the filter, if it is an open top filter, this will keep any blowing debris from getting into your filter. If your pressure filter is in the ground then disconnect it from the pump, use a insulated blanket to cover and protect it.
If you leave your pumps running make sure they are below freeze levels in your pond, likewise check your pumps that are placed in skimmers. Always keep a wary eye on streams, water can be diverted when the water beings to form ice, this will force water from the stream, this action can result in the loss of water from the pond, it can cause your pumps to run dry and burn out, this can also result in the severe loss of your pond fish.

In some cases shutting down your streams is highly recommended. Net your stream to keep leaves out, you may also consider tarping the stream, the tarp will protect the liner from cold drying winter winds.
In small ponds, a de-icer is especially helpful in preventing ponds from freezing solid. Using these devices is recommended for any size pond, the more openings in the ice, the better. The pond de-icer’s are not livestock de-icers they are energy efficient with internal thermometers and will kick on a factory set tempt and likewise will turn off. Livestock de-icers run 24-7 and will consume large amounts of electricity.

Remember, winter can be stressful on a fish's immune system. When the water temps are 39 degrees or below stop feeding your fish. Koi and Goldfish will gradually go into winter hibernation, as the water temps start to cool down, the fish's system will start to slowly decrease their heart rate, their respiration rate, their digestive system will not be able to break down any food they might take in. The fish will congregate in the bottom of the pond; they will huddle together and should be left alone. Human intervention will cause stress, so let nature take its course.

As the pond owner make sure the pond is clean, pumps are placed in the pond to keep openings in the ice if it should form, have your pond de-icers available, when the need arises put them in and leave them plugged in until spring, plants are pruned back, netting is in place. Your fish have stored energy reserves to sustain them throughout the winter months.

To ensure your pond preps are complete; keep this short checklist handy.
Clean your pond thoroughly
Reduce the number of leaves falling into the pond, Cover with netting.
Clean your filters, and store then if needed.
Cut back your pond plants, discard the tropicals or bring them in, do this before the first killing frost.
Feed a fall/spring or a good wheat germ based fish food.
Have your pond de-icer ready for installation.
Get your pond thermometer in the water and use it.
When the water temps are below 39 STOP FEEDING!

Call me with any questions. The club web site will be updated at all times with additional information.
Linda

Girl/boy talk
Of course you all know about my dubious sense of humor and how I love to tease the folks that ask silly questions or make funny statements. Well I know you all will love this one.

I had a lady that came into the shop to purchase a Koi. She had 6 Koi and they were about 6-8 inches, now you Koi people know that determining sex at that size is only a guess. But she had decided that there was one girl and the others were boys. I had to ask well how do you know this? A hunch she said, I'm good at guessing! Ok how can I help you? She said she knew the one girl was lonely and needed another girl fish to talk to! Oh no you have got to be pulling my short fat leg. I said well you know the boy Koi's do not get together and talk Koi football or drink to much water and water logged drunk, or watching Koi porn on the Koi T.V. stations. The girl Koi’s do not discuss if their fins make their butts look big, or my scales are changing colors and what can I do about it?

I said well dear the fish have just a few things on their minds 100% of the time and that is food, oxygen and staying alive and, in the spring reproducing. Believe me if you have more boys than girls, or vise versa, this will cause no social or depressed feelings. But we caught her a fish, was it a boy or a girl I don't know, the lady said because it was so pretty and lively it surely was a girl. Okey dokey hokey pokey I believe you?

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!

We had a good time at Wickman's Gardens. Becky gave a very informative meeting on fun colorful plants for your yards and gardens. She also talked about how to rid your areas of the dreaded Japanese Beetles. If you have these pesky critters eating everything in site, jump in your car and go to Wickman’s they have the cure and no not those horrible bait traps, all they do is lure the beetles into your yard, these are great and safe products that work!

Wickman’s donated two wonderful prizes to our members, one was a beautiful watering can and the other was a $25.00 gift card. The club donated a beautiful birdbath for a drawing. Thanks to Wickman’s for a fun filled night.

Now as you all know I preach about reading the newsletter, well my dear friends please pay careful attention to this one. The usual Thursday night meeting at the Alan and Pat Ware's has been moved to SATURDAY NIGHT THE 12TH OF SEPTEMBER at 6:00 p.m. This is our annual club picnic the reason we moved from Thursday night to Saturday was because so many people work and by the time the race home, change clothes and grab their covered dish, this might be a hassle for a lot of our members. So the membership voted to have our picnic on SATURDAY NIGHT THE 12th.

Yes, a covered dish affair. Bring your favorite dish, the club will provide the drinks, and table service, just bring yourselves and your favorite dish, and don't forget to bring a guest and give me a call by the 8th to R.S.V.P. Mark your calendars don't forget. Directions are on page 3 of newsletter. Our October meeting will be at the Simmons, then later that month we are going to have a Halloween party at Gary and Marcy Brown’s in Ozark. We will have hotdogs, chili, drinks, and trick or treats for all you spooks. Then we will go from there to Jim Silzell’s for dessert. I will have a lot more details in the next newsletter.

September Picnic:

When: Saturday Sept 12
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Alan and Pat Ware’s

Hey everybody! Hope you can come out on SATURDAY, September 12 at 6:00 p.m. for the SWS picnic. We asked members at the August meeting how they felt about switching from Thursday to Saturday and although there were some conflicts, most felt it would give them more time to prepare and to enjoy. Hope this works for you!

Everyone who knows us will be wondering, “Do they have their ponds back up?” Well, the short answer is no.........but........we have made huge progress on many things. Come see how we are doing. As I write this the whole week has been rainy and can’t get much of anything done, but we have been working VERY, VERY hard and feel good about our progress.

This will be an old-fashioned outdoor picnic. Drinks and service will be provided. Please bring a favorite dish to share (or two if you just love cooking). If it’s really special, you just might want to bring along the recipe too! You know someone will ask for it. Bring your lawn chair, but don’t worry if you forget, we have quite a bit of seating.

Directions:We are pretty easy to get to, just take Hwy 60 out of Springfield or Hwy 14 from Ozark or Nixa. From Springfield go through Republic and then through Billings. From Ozark and Nixa, go through Clever and on to Billings getting on Hwy 60 going west. Stay on Hwy 60 about a mile or so west of Billings and turn at the CAUTION LIGHT at Hwy 413 (to Crane). Go two miles to Zoller Road (there will be a sign out) and turn right (west). We are the last house on the left (white house with green roof, white and green outbuildings and red barn.)

I’m trying to convince my son’s praise band to play for us so we may have live entertainment in front of the barn. We’ll see. Maybe we will have some games to.... but for sure we will have lots of food and lots of good fellowship. Hope you can come! Hey you guys who haven’t been to a meeting for a while, come on out! We’d love to see you!Again, SATURDAY, September 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Alan & Pat Ware’s home in the country. If you have any questions you can call my cell at 417-343-3878.

Other Events:

There are lots of fun events that same weekend.

Wickman's Fall Open House and Craft Festival is Saturday & Sunday Sept. 12^th and 13th.

There will be a petting zoo, crafters selling wonderful homemade items. Dave and Helen will have Dozer and Dottie on display also. Wickman’s will also have lots of fall plants for sale. Hours are 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M.

Now when you leave Wickman's go to the Japanese Fall Festival at Nathaniel Greene Park on South Scenic, Sept. 12 & 13th.

There will be dozens of vendors selling plants, handmade pottery, hand painted decorative items for your gardens, and dozens of plants for sale. There will be entertainment this year as always. There will the huge Taiko drums the type of drums that make the ground shake, this group is unbelievable, a female entertainer from Disney Land in Florida, she does awesome magic tricks, and she will don beautiful masks and costumes in her show. There will be a one-of-a-kind craftsman he specializes in the rare Japanese style of candy making, yes this is quite a treat to see! There will be martial arts, musicians, kimonos and much, much more. Hours are 11:00 A.M.-dark-thirty. At dark there is a candlelight walk. The average attendance for this event is 12,000.

So as you can read there are 3 fun filled events for you that Saturday. Wickman’s, Japanese festival, club picnic at the Ware's.

Goodie Basket

We will have a goodie’s basket at the Ware's we are selling chances for, they are $5.00 each, there are all kinds of pond related items in the basket, these items were donated by the Watergarden society, Tropical Waterscapes and O’Quinn’s, we were given these items quite a while back, but because of busy meetings, I have not brought the goodies for quite a while.

You will be able to purchases chances at the September picnic at the Ware’s, the October meeting at the Simmons’s, then again at Gary and Marcy Brown’s cookout (more on the cookout in the next newsletter) in October and one more time at Jim Silzell’s with the drawing being after desserts.

October Meeting

October meeting will be a Dave & Helen Simmons, we will have a 2 part meeting Dave will show us how to repair a broken piece of yard art, such as a decorative spitter, I will show you how to get your plants ready for winter, I will bring some marginal plants and a tropical lily for a hands on demo.

Getting started on Winter

As we approach fall and darn it wintertime, there are a few things to do to ready your pond for the grueling times of winter. Now don't get me wrong it's a long time away, however when opportunity presents itself now is a good time to clean your pond from any debris that has settled in the bottom of your pond. Some debris cannot be helped of course but we don't want inches of it, this litter allows for harmful bacteria to accumulate. It is also a great time to clean your filters and get them squeaky clean, if you want to change out lava rock, for more user friendly filter media now is a good time.

When the leaves start falling get your netting over your ponds. Don't look at the calendar months to tell you when to stop feeding your fish. I repeat myself every year a fish does not have a calendar, they do not live outside the water. You stop feeding your fish when the pond temps are below 50 Degrees. Who knows when that will be! Get a pond thermometer.

I get asked this question a lot when winter approaches will the awful string algae quit growing, ah the answer is not! This algae can grow anytime of the year.

Recipe for Medicated Fish Food

I have had several requests for the medicated fish food recipe.
Go to Race Brothers Farm Supply and get the yellow package of Tetramycin or Tetracycline powder, purchase the 3.5 oz size. Area farmer's use this for their cattle, chickens, pigs, turkeys, teenage boys, oh wait a minute maybe not the chickens, oh well it's a good product.
Mix about 1/4 of the powder with enough water to make a thick paste, then fold in your fish food until all the liquid of absorbed, spread on a cookie sheet, and place in your oven on the lowest setting for about one hour or until the fish food is no longer wet or moist. Store the fish food in a plastic container in your freezer. Thaw out what you need to feed for a couple of days, the fish food will mold quite easily. Feed your fish this medicated food for 7-10 days and then you can switch back to your regular food. Mix up only the amount of food you will feed for this period of time. If you need a 2nd round wait 1 week before you resume feeding the medicated food, we don't want the fish to develop immunity to the food.

Big Beautiful Butterfly Koi at O’Quinn’s on
Saturday September the 19th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Jerry McBride of McBride Koi will be bringing in some of the most gorgeous Butterfly Koi you have ever seen. These are AAA rated Koi, various sizes and a huge array of colors. McBride is one of the finest breeders in the U.S and certainly in Missouri.

He will have prices that will fit any budget, and if you don't want to take one of these beauties home at least come by and see them, oh my gosh they are spectacular. These are the type of fish you see in the Koi magazines. Sept 19th mark your calendars.

God and the Lawn:

GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.

St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They
started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in
bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.

GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back
on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so
fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer
stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to
keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something
which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine,
you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: 'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about....

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

Step 12: Decide how to cool your greenhouse.

One of the best ways to cool a greenhouse in the summer is to reduce light intensity. How much reduction to provide depends on the heat load in the greenhouse and the light requirements of the plants grown. Greenhouse whitewash, shade cloth, screens of wood or aluminum, or Venetian blinds can be used for shading. Greenhouse whitewash is a special kind of latex paint that is diluted in water and sprayed on the covering surface. It is designed to be applied in the spring and gradually degrade by the action of rain and sun so that little remains by fall. Shade cloth is a black, green, or white woven fabric of polypropylene that is laid over the outside of the covering. Shade cloth can be purchased with various weave densities that result in 20 to 80 percent light reduction. For most hobby greenhouse applications, 30 to 50 percent light reduction should be sufficient.

Another method for cooling a greenhouse is evaporative cooling, which relies on air passing through a porous pad saturated with water. The evaporating water removes heat from the greenhouse. There are two types of evaporative coolers: fan-and-pad systems and unit coolers (swamp coolers). Fan-and-pad systems consist of a cellulose pad at least 2 feet tall and extending the length of one wall, with water supplied from the top to keep the pad wet during operation. Fans are installed in the opposite wall to draw outside air through the pads.

Unit coolers consist of a metal box mounted outside the greenhouse and evaporative pads on three inside walls. These units may be more practical and attractive for small hobby greenhouses. A water connection, collection lines, and recirculating pump are built into the unit. A fan within the unit draws outside air through the pads and the cooled air into the greenhouse through a duct. A vent on the opposite side of the greenhouse provides an air exit. Unit coolers should provide about 15 cubic feet per minute for each square foot of floor area. Costs for unit coolers range from $125 to $600 for 500- to 3,500-cubic-feet-per-minute units, respectively. Determining the evaporative cooling capacity for a given greenhouse and geographic location is difficult. Work with a greenhouse supply or construction company to determine the proper size for your situation.

Generally, heating, ventilating, and cooling are controlled by thermostats located close to the center of the greenhouse at plant level. For accurate control, be sure the thermostat is shaded from direct sunlight. Mounting it in a plastic or wood box ventilated by a small blower works well.

Step 13: Decide how to provide utilities to your greenhouse.

Check all local building codes before building a greenhouse on your property. Some county or city codes prohibit greenhouses or place restrictions on size, type, covering, or construction materials. Also, check with the local electric company. In some areas, the utility company may request a utility pole and separate meter for the greenhouse. Be sure all electrical work is performed by a licensed electrician according to code.

Water can usually be plumbed from the home supply line as long as the volume and pressure are adequate. Install a backflow prevention valve in the water supply line to prevent the possibility of contaminating the water in your home.

Step 14: Choose work and storage areas.

Make a work area for potting and maintaining plants. This may be located inside or outside the greenhouse. The north wall is often a good location for a work area inside the greenhouse. The work area may also include a sink. Storage areas for soil and containers can be located outside the greenhouse but should be protected from the weather and not be an eyesore.

Step 15: Follow the greenhouse "do's" and "don'ts."

Finally, consider the following points. They are intended to prevent problems and to make life with a greenhouse more enjoyable.

Do's:

Don'ts:

AUGUST 2009

The Dog Days of Summer

I cannot believe how fast the summer is passing us by. I guess we need to slow down and enjoy it before we start griping about cold weather.

We had a wonderful time at Rose Fuller's, she has a wonderful back yard that she has built herself, such talents. Cliff Fitzwater gave a very informative program on gravel bog filters. This type of filtering is one of the best ways to biologically filter your water. Bog filters are one of the oldest ways of filtering. Nothing fancy or exotic it just works. If you will give me and Dave Simmons a little time we are going to change our website “Water Gardening 101”; the update will be how to build these wonderful filters. Check our web site in about 1-2 weeks all the info will be there. Cliff suggested some plants for planting in these bog filters, I will disagree just a little bit and will list the good, the bad and ugly plants that are used in these types of filters, I have made a list of those plants later in the newsletter, so look for that.

October meeting will be at Dave & Helen Simmons a spooktacular get together.

As an added fun get together we will have a trick or trick party at the Brown's in Ozark, I will keep you posted with more info on that get together.

September meeting will be a potluck food get together at Alan & Pat Ware's. There will be a short program on getting your plants ready for winter. Uck winter!

So read your newsletter. In fact some members said there were no directions to Rose's meeting in the last newsletter. Oops the directions were in the newsletter so my dear members please read it from front to back, back to front up an down everything so you won't miss a thing including directions. Ah ha, we don't want you to miss a single event.

This time of the year you have noticed by now I'm sure that your fish population might be growing. If you find yourself in that situation, you are invited to bring your excess Koi to O’Quinn’s, we will put the babies in 2 week quarantine then take them to the Japanese Garden's at Nathaniel Greene Park. If you have to many goldfish you can bring them to O’Quinn’s and we will turn them loose in the plant ponds. These are a means to get rid of excessive fish.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly Plant For Bog Filters

The purpose of a bog filter is to use plants. The plants are placed bare root in a container or directly into gravel that is in the filter pond. The roots will freely take up the excessive nutrients that naturally occur in your pond. As many of you ponders know from experience there are some plants that will grow in any situation. So because of that fact some plants are horribly intrusive we must select plants that we have control over. You want the plant to work for you and not be a threat as far as control is concerned. Directly planting some water plants in a gravel filter takes away our control of the plant.

While on the other hand even plants that are bare root in a container can still be a high maintenance plant. So these plants are suggested plants for use in a gravel bog filter
Arrowhead, assorted Taros, Carxe, Blue Rush, Bog Lily's, Corkscrew Rush, Creeping Jenny, Dwarf Horsetail & Dwarf Papyrus, Dwarf Sweet flag, Lizard's Tail, Melon sword, Red stemmed Thalia, and Spider Lily.

Plants that are invasive in the bog filter (Think Twice Before using these plants)
All Cattails, All Mints, Chameleon Plant, Gold Rush, Horsetail, Phragmites, and Yellow Iris.

Other plants you might consider and maybe some you would not think of are; Astilbe, Bergenia, Bishops Weed, Butterfly Gingers, Caladiums, Calla lily's, Day Lilies (one of my favorites in a pond also) Fox Glove, Hostas, Joe Pie Weed, Leopard Plant, Society Garlic, Tomatoes, Trilliums, and Violas. Try these plants you will be amazed how they will thrive in these conditions. At this time of the year a lot of these plants can be purchased at rock bottom prices, so what the heck for pennies try something new.

August Meeting
When: Thursday the 13th

Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Wickman's Gardens 1345 S Fort

Program: plants for your fall garden.

Wickman's will have a 25% off on all perennials, selected exotic tropicals; there will be other plants on sale. This sale is for ‘members only’ the night of our meeting. Wickman's is a good friend to our society. Be sure and bring a friend and bring your own chairs. We will have a great time and enjoy their beautiful gardens, plants and garden art treasures. Be there it will be a lot fun.

Directions: from Springfield. The corner of Sunshine and Campbell Street go west to Fort Street it is the 2nd stop west of Campbell. Turn north onto Fort go about 1-1/2 miles Wickman's is on the west side of Fort 1345 S. Fort, you cannot miss it. Come early and shop.
As always bring a friend and your own chairs

Tropical Waterlilys
For those of you who are lovers of the tropical waterlilys. By now they are really strutting their stuff. Big bold pads, luscious blooms. Some of these jewels are what we call viviparous, meaning they produce babies on the pads of the lily's. Vips can be enjoyed into the cool months of fall, which I might add is a long time away.

Get some 6-8 ounce paper cups, yes paper cups, put a fertilizer tab in the bottom of the cup then fill the cup about half full of sand and some dirt, mix if up thoroughly, then plant your baby in the cup finish filling the cup with the dirt and sand mix, top off with some gravel. Place the plant in water deep enough to float the leaves, as the leaves get a little bigger you can gradually lower the cup into deeper water. Now here comes the fun part, do not put the plant any deeper than 10-12 inches of water, as the leaves get larger cut them off, and yes the plant will bloom.

What are we doing, by keeping the plant in a small cup; placing the plant in shallow water and not letting the larger leaves develop? Well we are Bonsaing the water lily. Yes Bonsai! The term Bonsai means ‘growing plant in a tray.’ You can enjoy your tropical lily in a miniature version of its larger mother. These miniature blooms usually will only get about 1-2 inches across and the pads will be small because you are cutting off the bigger ones. The plant will look wonderful on the shelves of your pond or grow it in a small shallow container, have fun with your plants, don't go by what it says in some of these silly pond books and magazines, have fun, experiment.

I have written several articles on having fun with marginal and usually plants in your water garden you would never think of using. Use your water lily baskets to put water lettuce in as a marginal plant or use philodendrons in your bio-filter or even in the gravel filter that Cliff gave his program on. Use ferns in your bio-filter also, I love Day Lily's in a pond. I have reds, yellows, orange, pinks, growing on the shelves of my pond, they are hardy, I have one large container that has been in my pond for 5 years now and yes it stays there year round. When Pat Ware brought Day Lily's to the plant swap I grabbed as many as I could, without knocking someone over. Try these plants what have you got to loose. For those who have shady ponds, use Impatiens you can't image how beautiful these plants are in a shallow area of your pond.

You Should Be Proud

One more thing before I close out for the month. We should be so proud of our citizens who call Southwest Missouri home; The Extreme Home Makeover
choosing the Hampton family for the makeover was wonderful. It was reported that the show may air for 2 hours instead of the usual 1 because of the amount of volunteers that showed up, the site seers numbers were some the largest in the history of the show. What an honor for the Hampton’s and what an honor to be part of the community that gave this gift.

Pond Tour

To partially update on the pond tour these are the totals so far; $1,760.48, we had 12 new members and 5 renewals making it a total of $1930.48. We have not received the final bill on the tour guides. As soon as we get these totals we put the info in the newsletter.

The Big Battle

I want to share a little story with you all. The past few weeks we have been battling a Big blue heron, he showed up early one morning, I had let the dogs out to do their duty's, I went to make my morning coffee and there he stood, eating our Koi! I went flying out of the house hollering and yelling at the top of my lungs. I will not tell you the words that spewed from my mouth. I was dressed a little on the shabby side. Well he took off as fast as he could fly. It was either my yelling or my no makeup face, frazzled hair and my nighttime clothing. Anyhow off he went. I don't now how many fish he ate, but what he did not eat he tossed on the ground. We had Koi flopping all over the place, not one or two but dozens. Some were already dead, some were stiff as a board, other were stressed bloody and bruised. We lost all our Koi literally thousands of dollars.

So we licked our wounds. A few days go by and then one day I noticed a strange little bird. Not so strange as it turned out, this was a little green heron. This little devil is more determined and vicious than his larger big cousin. This guy started raiding in broad daylight with customer everywhere around him, he knew no fear. One afternoon I sold a lady a small Koi carried it to her car and by the time I ran back to the shop he had stolen a little Koi. We then of course was covering the fish tanks, however he would sit on the edge of the tanks trying to get a tasty fish morsel the problem was he was a pooping machine. I was doing daily water changes. He would come at all times of the day and night and was poisoning the water with his waste. The water changes were not enough; his pooping in the water at night was literally killing our Koi and goldfish. The ammonia content was extreme. Not only was this killing them but the constant stress was taking its toll on the fish as well. We lost about 3-dozen little Koi and dozens of goldfish. We had to purchase new fish.

The Green Heron is at the shop literally 24-7 he will not leave, taking pot shots at him do nothing, hollering & chasing do nothing, he goes to the tops trees yells at us and the minute our backs are turned he is back. I hate this bird, I want him dead I want him to suffer I want him gone; he has made this ole’ broad fighting mad. War has been declared. It’s him or us.

Jerry, Alex and myself built some new netting frames to go over out retail fish tank, they are pretty spiffy. Friday morning early I went out to check on the fish. So far so good, I walk up to our tank with the new Koi and see something in the water. I walked closer it is the green heron, he had managed to squeeze through a 3 inch opening between the netting and the rim of the fish tank. He cannot stand, he cannot fly out, he is trapped, ding-dong the wicked bird is dead. He had drowned. Now I hate to see animals die, I understand what he was doing was instinct he could not help himself. But stubbornness killed him. Am I sad? I don't think so. He and his big blue cousin cost us thousands of dollars. So the next time a tree hugger tells me these birds are protected I will invite them to keep these @#?++X&^%!# birds from my fish, or you can pay us for them.

The moral of the story is, pretty birds on a post card, or at a river's edge, or wading in a stream, a zoo is ok too, but not using my fish as your free buffet.

If any of you have your own horror stories of predators send them to me I will share them in our newsletter with fellow members.
Happy fried chicken to all of you,
Linda

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

"Part 7" - Steps 10 and 11 of 15 part Series***

Step 10: Decide how to heat your greenhouse.

Greenhouses are poorly insulated structures, and heat loss
through the covering on cold, clear, windy nights can be
considerable. Heat can be supplied using electricity (can be
expensive), natural gas or propane, fuel oil, solar energy
(unreliable), or kerosene (emergency use only). You can also
connect the greenhouse to your home heating system. Natural
gas or propane are probably the most cost-effective ways of
heating a hobby greenhouse. If natural gas is available in the
home, plumbing into the existing line saves considerable cost
over a new meter and gas line. If natural gas is not
available, check with the local propane gas company for cost
and availability. Determine if the company provides a storage
tank free or if it can be rented or purchased. Consult the
company to determine the tank size appropriate for the
greenhouse.

A variety of gas unit heaters are available to heat hobby
greenhouses. Some are designed to hang from the structure of
the greenhouse; others sit on the floor. Costs for gas unit
heaters range from $300 to $550 for 20,000 to 60,000 BTU
units, respectively. Unit heaters burn gas in a firebox.
Heated air rises through the inside of a thin-walled heat
exchanger on the way to the exhaust chimney. A fan draws air
in from the greenhouse, across the outside of the heat
exchanger, and out into the greenhouse. Thus, most of the heat
is removed from the exhaust before it exits the structure. The
exhaust chimney must be sufficiently tall to maintain an
upward draft and extend above the greenhouse roof. An 8- to
12-foot chimney is usually sufficient. All open-flame heaters
must be vented to the outside and given a fresh air supply for
complete combustion. Fresh air should be provided by an
unobstructed opening to avoid carbon dioxide buildup.
In larger greenhouses, a plastic tube system may be needed to
distribute the heat evenly within the house. The system
consists of a perforated polyethylene tube suspended overhead
in the ridge and extending the length of the greenhouse. A fan
connected to the tube blows warm air from the heater into the
tube for greenhouse distribution. This system can also be used
for circulating internal air when heating or cooling are not
required.

A variety of electric resistance heaters can also be used.
Costs range from $100 to $350 for 5,000 to 17,000 BTU units,
respectively. Those available in department stores and home
centers are usually only adequate in the smallest greenhouse
for starting seedlings in the spring. Larger units can be
purchased, but operating them can be costly.
Heater size for a given greenhouse and geographic location
depends on the surface area of the greenhouse and the
temperature difference between the inside and outside of the
greenhouse. To determine the size heating system you need,
calculate the total surface area of the greenhouse covering.
Then determine the difference between the minimum expected
outside temperature during winter in your area (see the USDA
hardiness zone map, average annual minimum temperature) and
the maximum night temperature you wish to maintain (generally
60 to 65 degrees F). Multiply the greenhouse surface area by
the temperature difference by the heat loss conversion factor
in Table 1 for the appropriate covering. The answer will be in
BTUs per hour. Most heaters are rated in this unit. Many
greenhouse supply or construction companies can help you
determine the proper size heater for your situation.

Step 11: Decide how to ventilate your greenhouse.

The purposes of ventilation are to exchange carbon dioxide and
oxygen, to remove hot air, and to lower relative humidity.
Hobby greenhouses can be vented by natural flow-through
ventilation or by forced-air ventilation. Flow-through
ventilation relies on side and top vents that pull cool
outside air into the greenhouse through the side vent as warm
air rises and exits through the top vent. The combined side
and top vent area should equal about 20 percent of the roof
area. Vents can be manually controlled, but this requires
frequent temperature checks and vent adjustment according to
outside conditions. Using an electric motor and thermostat for
automatic vent control is much easier. Simple automatic
systems open or close the vents based on a setpoint
temperature. More advanced systems open and close vents in
stages based on multiple setpoint temperatures. The advantage
of natural flow-through ventilation is that it costs less than
forced-air ventilation to operate; however, it may not be
adequate to cool the greenhouse during the summer.
Forced-air ventilation systems consist of a louvered intake
vent and electric fan(s) controlled by a thermostat. The fans
pull cool air into the greenhouse from outside through an
intake vent and push warm inside air out. Fans should be
mounted in a waterproof housing with air-activated louvers to
protect electrical components from inclement weather and to
keep cold air out during the winter. Be sure to install a
screen over the inside of the fans to prevent injury. Be sure
that the distance between the fans and adjacent structures
equals at least 1-1/2 times the fan diameter. The louver on
the intake vent on the wall opposite the fans can be
air-activated or motorized. Costs of fans range from $150 to
$250 for 1,200- to 3,000-cubic-feet-per-minute units,
respectively.

Be sure that the fan capacity is large enough to exchange the
air in the greenhouse at least once per minute.
Recommendations for warm climates call for a fan capacity to
remove 12 to 17 cubic feet per minute per square foot of floor
area. If the greenhouse is attached to the east, west, or
south wall of another building, solar heat will collect inside
the greenhouse from this wall. If this is the case, add half
the area of the attachment wall to the floor area when
calculating the ventilation requirements. Work with a
greenhouse supply or construction company to determine the
proper size fan or vent for your situation.

Dr. Dave

Happy Father's Day

We had a rain free night at the Grozinger's. Their new pond is going to be awesome. Big, pretty with two streams into a bottom pond. Can't wait to see the finished product. Now for you curious members they will be on the tour so if you want to see a work in progress go and see what they are doing.

The meeting at Ken and Mimi's was a lot fun we learned about skimmers and how important they are for water quality. Skimmers can be installed into an existing system it takes a little work but it can be done. There are also skimmers that can be installed into the pond as a retro fit system nothing is set in concrete. Skimmers are a wonderful addition to your pond. We want to thank Mike Kennedy for showing us how to install these wonderful pond appliances and thanks to Ken and Mimi for hosting our meeting.

There will be 20 ponds on tour this year. Be sure and plot your map and see all of them. Members can pick up their free guides at Murphy Gardens and O’Quinn’s, only. The other businesses that are selling tickets don't know you are members. They have employees that are there to manage the cash register and don't know a club member from a paying customer. So remember members can pick up tickets at Murphy's and O’Quinn’s ONLY!!!!!!

Don't forget your dads this year, give a huge hug and tell them you love them
Take care of yourselves and others. Linda

June meeting

The meeting will be at Ian & Phyllis Donnelly's
Time 7:00 p.m.

Program: Having fun with water plants in containers.

Containers and water plants can make a pretty statement in your garden. You can use the floaters as beautiful potted plants, use cattails outside the pond as a beautiful potted plant anywhere in your garden or on a patio porch this will be a lot of fun, don't miss out.

Of course seeing Ian and Phyllis's gardens will be a treat. They have wonderful garden rooms. Ian will show us room by room what he has done over these many years. So come a little early and check out the gardens.

Directions:
From Hwy 65 and 14 in Ozark go south for 1.2 miles to the Hwy F exit. Take the exit and turn right and then immediately turn right onto McLean Road. Turn left onto Martha it's the 5th house on the left at the bottom of the hill, 290 Martha Street.

As a friendly reminder be sure and bring a friend and your own chairs.
See ya there!!!!!

Tour Tickets
I will have tour tickets at the June meeting. If any members want tickets to sell to friends or family, I will have the tickets at O’Quinn’s by the first week of June, the price of the tickets are $10.00 per person children under 12 at no charge. You can pay for the tickets you sell after the tour.

The paper will feature Dr. Tom and Cheryl Briggs home and garden as a prelude to the pond tour. We will have 20 ponds this year, many new ones and our wonderful hosts that show their ponds each year. There will be some members who have shown in the past but due to forces of the weather their yards have been changed. So always remember that not only do gardener's change their yards each year, sometimes mother nature will change it for us whether we like it or not. So be sure and visit Larry and Helen Fortner’s garden this is prime example of the forces of Mother Nature at work.

Another Tour
There will be another pond tour this year, it will be in the Reed Springs area, It will be on June 27th from 9:00 a.m.-5 p.m. If you are interested in going I have the info at O’Quinn’s, I know you will be glad you went on the tour.

July Meeting and Plant Swap

The meeting will be at Rose Fuller's. Our program speaker will be Cliff Fitzwater of Fitzwater designs from Reed's springs. The program will be a gravel beach plant filter. Cliff is a local contractor who installs water features and especially enjoys talking about this type of filtering.

After the July meeting and program we are going to have a member’s plant swap, this is always a fun thing. The plants do not have to be water plants, they can be any plant you have several of and want to share or trade. So mark your calendars.

We are going to skip the club picnic this July and instead we will have a food get together at Alan and Pat Ware's home in September.

Getting Geared up for Summer
If you haven't switched fish food from spring to summer foods you can do it safely now. I know you all get tired of me talking about keeping a watchful eye on your fish, but this time of the year their fancy may be turning from food to the opposite sex. YES it's spawning time again. If the spawn causes your pond to have an ammonia spike you got to do water changes. The risk of loosing your big Koi to a having a few babies is not worth the risk.

If your floaters are looking kind of pitiful they may want to be fed. There were also a few quite cool mornings this past week so if they are a little yellow it could be the cooler water temps or they want to be fed. Use the liquid aquatic plant fertilizer; your floaters will love it.

Koi Days
June 6^th, & 7^th;

3rd annual free Koi and goldfish days at O’Quinn’s Watergardens.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5: p.m. Free Hotdogs, drinks and chips Saturday only from 11-1:00
One free Koi or goldfish per household
These fish are of the highest quality, they are not culls or pond grade Koi or goldfish. They have been guarantied against parasites and diseases. The breeder that these fish come from takes pride in his fish and they are of the highest quality. These are not fish mill culls.
There will be gorgeous imported Koi for display and for sale. These fish are from one of the foremost breeders in the Midwest area.
Dr. Dave and Helen's South African Spurred Torts will be on display, if you haven't seen these wonderful creatures you need to load up the car and bring the kids and the family and see Mr. Dozer and Miss Dotti,
There will also be on display baby pygmy goats that love to be fed and petted. You will adore these furry little bundles.
Jerry O'Quinn owner: You can call 417 883-2399 for more info see ya on the 6th or 7th

Japanese Maple Trees
If you love Japanese maple trees come to O’Quinn’s and there will be about 30 varieties of these wonderful trees. There will be the dwarf lace leafs. Reds, greens and variegated will be for sale. The trees are being sold with the proceeds going to the Southwest Botanical Society, not one penny will be going to O’Quinn’s. Prices are from $50.00 to $100.00 they are all in 5 gallon containers. The trees will be at O’Quinn’s on June 6 & 7th.

Should of know better!

Fellow member Debbie Cushing told the group at the May meeting with her almost disaster with water hyacinths. She had placed them in her filter and the plants had drifted to the discharge spout for the waterfall and clogged it up. The pond water then being forced over the sides of her filter, almost emptied her pond, and of course jeopardizing her fish and pumps. So monitor these plants at all times. Debbie has some huge Koi that she had since they were puppies, they mean a lot to her and Jim. We have all had close calls with our ponds, so use caution with these plants, they are workhorses for water quality and clarity but monitor them at all times. Thanks to Debbie for sharing her almost sad accident.

A note from Debbie: the same thing happened to the other pond, but this time it was algae and parrot’s feather that had clogged the outlet pipe, it drained out nearly 4000 gallons of water leaving 16 big fish in a baby pool of water. I was very lucky I went home for lunch and discovered it, if I hadn’t all the fish would have been dead by the time I got home after work. I was also very lucky that none of the pumps burned up.

And for a side note to that, make sure your pumps are not on very bottom of the pond, that way if something should happen it won’t pump all the water out of your pond, so set them up on something.

Try something new.
Want to try a really fun plant? Get a canna variety named Cleopatra. This beauty has red and yellow blooms; it also has yellow and red blooms. This plant has a real unique quality. On the same plant it will have a red bloom with yellow freckles, on the same stem it can have a yellow blooms with red freckles, now we are not done with this plant, it can also have on the same bloom, half can be red and the other half of the bloom can be yellow. Yes this a real unique plant, not done yet as the plant matures the beautiful green foliage will have a maroon strips that runs through the center of the leaf. This is one striking plant, it is grown as a shallow water plant and of course it is tropical and must be winter in the house.

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"
"Part 5" - Steps 5,6, and 7 of 15 part series***
Step 5: Choose a covering material.
There are several covering materials to choose from, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Common covering materials are glass, polyethylene film, fiberglass reinforced panels, and double-layer structured panels.
Glass is expensive and tempered glass and double-strength float glass (1/8 inch thick) can be out of most gardener’s price range.
Polyethylene film (PE) is a good choice for home-built greenhouses because less structural support is required and it costs much less than other materials.
Fiberglass reinforced panels (FRPs) are rigid plastic panels made from acrylic or polycarbonate that come in large corrugated or flat sheets.
Acrylic or polycarbonate double-layer structured panels (DSPs) are made of two layers of plastic held apart by ribs spaced 1/2 to 1 inch apart. The double-layer construction increases structural strength and heat retention but decreases light transmission compared to single-layer materials. Because of these qualities this material can be the most expensive.
Step 6: Choose the framing materials.
To a large extent, this choice will be influenced by the type of covering material chosen, the desired permanence, and costs. Many homemade greenhouses are made of wood. Be sure to purchase treated lumber for exterior use. Metal-framed greenhouses are more permanent but are difficult for do-it-yourself projects from scratch. Schedule 80 PVC pipe can also be used as supports for small Quonset-style greenhouses that are to be covered in PE, but PVC requires extra support to withstand strong wind.
Step 7: Choose the foundation and sidewall materials.
Greenhouses to be covered in PE usually do not require an extensive foundation, but the support posts must be set in concrete footings. In strong wind, the shape of your greenhouse can make it act like an airplane wing, and it may lift off the ground. A 2- to 3-foot-high sidewall can add considerably to the appearance and strength of a greenhouse. Concrete block, stone, or brick are the most popular materials used, but shingle, clapboard, and asbestos rock have also been used.
Dr. Dave

MAY 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

We had quite a meeting at Garden Adventures! As always Dow & Linda were wonderful hosts and their nursery is just beautiful. Dow gave us a very informative program on hardy Camellia's, yes there is hardy Camellia's and are they beautiful. Do yourself a favor and drive to Garden Adventures and see these beauties.
As we were leaving the meeting, there was a storm brewing. When I got just past Tracker Road here came a small tornado a F-0, the weather bureau said, but I have to tell ya; it just about blew my truck off the road. The rain was so hard and fast I could not drive faster than 10 mph. There was a convoy of cars and trucks going North on Campbell at a snail's pace. By the time I got home I felt I had run a relay race all by myself. Yes soirée, quite a drive home! But everyone had a good time.

We need you for the pond tour!!!! Call now and sign up! Call me at 883-2399 dates are June 13 & 14th.
Don't forget the extra meeting this month at Machino’s on Tuesday May the 12th at 6:30. This will be a combo meeting with the Master Gardner’s. A fun filled meeting for everyone.
.
May Meeting

May meeting will be at Ken & Mimi Grozinger's on May the 14th 7:00 p.m.
Program: Skimmer's. Mike Kennedy from Rock-N-Water Pond Design will be the program speaker, he will show and tell how to properly install these wonderful additions to your systems. Be there and plan on asking questions.

There will be several types of skimmers displayed at the meeting; there will also be some pumps that are made for the size skimmer. We will discuss what size skimmer is needed for your pond. We will also discuss how to make your own skimmer; there will be skimmers that are a retro fit for existing ponds.

This will be a fun and informative meeting, so plan on being there and as always bring a friend. Please remember to bring your own chairs.
There will also be an important announcement made at this meeting, so be sure and be there.

The Waiting Game

My goodness will spring ever get here? We can only hope. If your pond looks like a pigsty don't worry with these crazy temperatures it's only natural. Until temps stabilize your pond will be very reflective of the instability of the weather. Be patient; continue with your weekly or bi-weekly routines. Do partial water changes if needed, be sure and start your enzyme treatments. If you need to use chemical controls use as needed. Be sure your pumps are clean and running smoothly.

Love is in the air! Well, sort of.

Believe it or not some members Koi are spawning, the smelt that is released to fertilize the Koi eggs will be very high in ammonia, keep a keen eye out for any water quality problems. Your Koi are worth more than a few baby Koi that might or might not have a good color pattern. Do water changes, be sure and add your dechlorinator and it's a good idea to add additional pond zyme. If your fish look a little ragged after the spawn it's a good idea to add some Melafix or some Malachite-green with some formalin in it. These products will head off any bacterial or fungal infections that might occur. The Malachite green-formalin products will also kill off any cold-water parasites that can attack your fish this time of the year. These products are safe and easy to use. Just keep a watchful eye for any problems that might occur.

As the Story goes!

As you all know I love a little humor in the newsletter, well, here is a real zinger.
Now these stories are true! A pond owner had too many Goldfish in his pond and needed to down size the amount. He had a rather large (he thought) female that was full of eggs. Sadly that was not the case, but a case of dropsy instead, and the fish was humanly euthanizined. However, that was not the humorous part of the story. He thought that she was full of eggs and could not understand why the males had not come to her and squeezed her eggs out. Now, this man really thought that she must be squeezed! First of all, how would he squeeze them out? Wrap his fins around her; push her against the side of the pond and squeeze against her? Get a buddy and do a buddy squeeze? If this was a human female, the man would probably get slapped. Can you imagine your husband saying "Ok honey, it looks like it's time to have the baby. You stand right there, I will squeeze it out of you!!!" I don't think the man understand the cycle of how babies are born!

Special Event

May 23rd Free day at the Japanese stroll Garden
there will be a sale of Japanese Maples with all proceeds going to the Botanical Society hours 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Pond Tour

Time is passing by quickly we want you! The pond tour is June 13^th and 14th we could use a few more ponds, either Saturday or Sunday. Whatever day is best for you would tickle us plum to death. We decided that instead of giving away t-shirts, if you sign up to be on the pond tour, you will get free membership dues for next year. That would be a $20.00 savings for you. We need ponds! Don’t forget members go on the tour for free. Call me A.S.A.P. to sign up, Linda 883-2399.

It's a good thing..

Do you have planting pockets in your pond, or areas where you like to directly plant your aquatics. Should you use pea-gravel or river rock as your potting media? Depending on the plants you are using, if the plants are aggressive in their growth and pulling the plants from the gravel is a challenge, switch to the aquatic soil, it is a variety of calicine clay, this media will allow you to use your knife and easily push the plant divisions apart. This clean media does allow for bacteria to colonize through out. It has no properties to foul the water, and of course plants in the marginal part of your pond will also help filter the water, this allows for aerobic activity in your system. This is good. If you choose to use this media as a potting media for your lilies, it has no nutrients in it, so extra fertilization is a must it is 100% inert. But used as media in planting pockets it works great, the water movement in the pond, the ammonia and nitrates from fish will make these plants flourish. It is indeed a good thing.

Going Green

As many of you know and have heard the smart thing today is to go green. The wonderful thing about gardening in a pond is yes you can go green, not green water but green products. Now you ask what products can I use that are green. For starter the pond Zyme or friendly bacteria is not a chemical, for years ponders have had the idea that this product is a chemical, well it's not, and it is a beneficial bacteria.

We have beneficial bacteria in our own body system. This product is for breaking down waste that naturally occurs in your pond. These products are called several different names. Such as Eco-Fix, Beneficial bacteria’s, Pond Zymes, Pond Clarifiers, Bio-Controls, the list goes on, in a nut shell they are safe, they are not chemicals, they work, and your pond will benefit from them.

Other products are Barley Extracts. The barley is from Barley Straw; the difference is the extract will not make the mess in the bottom of your pond as the straw does. Barley is used to control the growth of string algae, it is not a chemical it is a liquid that is extracted from Barley straw and yes it's works.

Other things you can do to control water quality that works without the use of chemicals, using plants in your open top bio-filters, keep the right amount of fish in your pond, use the correct size pump, use a structure over your pond to control sun light, the right amount of surface coverage with the use of plants in your pond, feed a good fish food, with no corn or if you feed a corn based food make sure it is not the first ingredient in the list of grains in the food. Corn is hard to digest, weather for fish, dogs, cats or humans. A corn based fish food makes for more waste in the water, in plain terms more poop in the water. A good balanced fish food makes for a cleaner healthier pond. Again you are not using chemicals to keep the pond clean, just a good fish food. There are many things you can do if you want to go no-chemicals in your system.

Try Something Different

Try some fun things with your floaters this year, use them as potted plants. Find a pretty container one that is watertight. Use dirt, potting soil, aquatic soil, moisten the media well, then make a deep hole and push the roots gently into the container then push the media around the base of the plant. Make sure the media is good and moist, sprinkle in some crumbled up aquatic fertilizer tabs, one will do nicely, place anywhere around your pond, in your garden, on a porch or patio, just make sure and keep the media moist, you will be shocked and amazed how pretty these plants will be. Place in an area where it will receive filtered light. Enjoy.

Use a shallow water tight container about 4-10 inches deep, from 18-36 inches across, place a pretty statue, or rock, small boulder, anything ornamental in the center, elevate it above the level of the edge or lip of your container. Use any type of planting media suggestions in the article above. Get some miniature cattails, creeping Jenny, and inpatients. Plant the cattails halfway around the back of the container. Use the other plants around the entire container, plant at the level of the container, the Creeping Jenny will vine over, the inpatients will add color, the cattails will add visual interest, as well as something a little different. As you all know the Jenny and inpatients love moisture. Something in the middle will also add to the over all looks of your pretty container. Place in filtered light; do not let it dry out. What fun!! Don't want to use cattails, use miniature water cannas, miniature papyrus, miniature umbrella palms, Blood grass, any plant that has some height, but are miniatures, and of course love water or being moist at all times.

Article in Paper Wrong

As you know, because of the economy, we have all had to tighten our belts.
Springfield is no exception. Recently in the News Leader there was an article about programs that the city might have to cut or put on the back burner. One of these articles was of the newly planned Botanical Center that is to be constructed at Nathaniel Greene Park (along with a picture of the planned Center). The funds to construct the center was voted on and passed by the citizens of Springfield. The news leader was incorrect in their statement that the center was to be put on the back burner and there was no indication when construction might start. Anyhow, through various e-mails from myself and George Dietz who is President of Friends of the Garden at Close Memorial Park and Jodie Adams, who’s the Director of the Springfield Parks department, this info about the delay of Botanical Center is false. The News leader was incorrect in their statements about the center. Jodie has assured the citizens of Springfield that the money for the center is going to that project only and that the center will be built, they hope very soon. I have had numerous members and regular customers question the article in the paper, but to no ones surprise the paper is incorrect.

Pond Tour in Branson

I had a real nice conservation from Cliff Fitzwater from Branson.
He owns and operates Fitzwater pond designs in the Branson area. They are planning a pond tour in Branson area this year. It will be after our tour the last weekend in June. It will be a self guided tour and if you are interested in going you can stop by the shop and I will have info on the tour. I will get maps and directions later. So if you don't have any plans yet for the last weekend in June. Mark your calendars.

Don’t Forget

Can you believe this weather rain, rain go away, does this sound like last year? Ah yes it does. Don't be shocked if once again your ponds start looking kind of yucky. All that rain, lots of wind, tons of nitrogen, all of these awful ingredients will cause your pond to regress. But alas just be patient use your pond zyme do some water changes and it will get back to looking pretty, patience is the key. It is May 1st, and we are running around with umbrellas and sweaters on!
Don't forget our two meetings in May!
Important announcement at the May meeting.
Program is on Skimmers for new pond installation or you can retro fit one for your already constructed pond.

POND TOUR WE NEED PONDS!!!!
Linda

The 3^rd Annual Free Koi Days at O’Quinn’s Watergardens

Free Koi per family at O’Quinn’s Watergardens. June 6 & 7^th, these are beautiful 6-8 inch Koi.
There will be free Hot Dogs, cokes, Chips Saturday only from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Bring you children or grandchildren too. There will be baby pygmy Goats to pet and feed. Dave Simmons will have his beautiful Torts on display. Mr. Dozer and Miss Dotti are African Spurred Tortoises from the Saraha desert. If you have not seen these wonderful creatures, you are in for a real treat.
Also on sale and display will be the most gorgeous spectacular Koi you can imagine these koi are from McBride Koi. McBride Koi is one of the best breeders in the Mid-West bring your cameras to see these beauties and yes, they will be for sale. Prices will be from $50.00-$250.00
Come one and all!

Jerry Quinn

Step 4: Choose a greenhouse size to suit your needs.

Available space and cost usually have a large impact on the choice of size for a hobby greenhouse. Keep in mind, however, that a greenhouse that is too small may cost more to operate than the initial cost of building a larger one. The obvious problem with a small greenhouse is that it is too small to meet the needs of the owner. In addition, temperatures can fluctuate rapidly in a small greenhouse, and heat losses can be as high as they are in a larger greenhouse. Small houses may also have limited headroom and be hard to work in. A taller, larger greenhouse obviously has more space, and it heats and cools more uniformly than a shorter, smaller one.

As a starting point, 100 square feet would be a minimum size, but 200 square feet is better. A house 9 to 14 feet wide by 20 feet long can be managed in a few hours per week. A larger greenhouse can also cost less to cover per square foot than a small greenhouse, so choose a size slightly larger than you think you need. On the other hand, ask yourself, do you have the time and dedication to maintain a large greenhouse, now and in the future?

April 2009

Happy Easter

Did March come in like a lion or lamb? Not real sure however we have had some wonderful days. Of course spring in the Ozarks is like a roller coaster ride. One day it’s a high of 32 and in two days it's 72! These up and down temps will play havoc with your water quality.

The past meeting was so much fun! Dave Simmons brought some of his homemade tufa items he also showed us how to paint concrete to look like pewter. I loaned him an old concrete pot to paint and my goodness it looked great.

Ian Donnelly brought the most beautiful stained glass window you have ever seen. It has a sky blue back ground with a beautiful white dove in flight. He brought all of his equipment to show us how we can have fun with stained glass. Jim Silzell also gave some wonderful tips on this beautiful art form. I encourage all of you to expand your horizons and try some new hobbies. Most of these hobbies are not hard or expensive. Dave will have the recipes in this newsletter for painting concrete.

April Meeting
April meeting will be at Garden Adventures in Nixa.
Garden Adventures is one of the best nurseries in this area. Dow and Linda have beautiful plants and garden accessories. I will have directions in the back of the newsletter.
Their nursery will host an Azaleas festival April 25 & 26th. Dow specializes in these beautiful spring blooming beauties. Mark your calendar for our meeting, as well as the festival.
Directions: From Hwy 160 go 2.8 miles west on Hwy 14. Garden Adventurers is on the south side of the road. 1900 W. Mt. Vernon is the address. If you get lost or have trouble their phone number is 417-725-3223
We Are Invited to Machino’s
The Watergarden Society has been invited along with the Master Gardener's to have a joint meeting at Machino’s in May. This meeting will be Tuesday May the 12th at 6:30 p.m. at Machino’s. Nancy Brown the owner said they are having a scavenger hunt in the store, the winner will receive a $200.00 gift certificate. There will be refreshments and door prizes.
Machino’s is located on south Campbell just north of Sunshine. They are next door to Mama Jean's health food store, if you haven't shopped there before do yourself a favor and get there a little early and go visit this wonderful store.
This meeting will not and I repeat not replace our regular May meeting. It will just be a fun night.

Machino’s will offer a discount program for the watergarden members. Any patio furniture, patio fire pits; all Patio fireplaces (gas or wood) will be 10% off, and 10% and 15% off on any patio accessories. These offers will expires July 31st, 2009.

Don't forget this will not replace our May meeting we will just have two get together’s in one week. . See ya there, Linda.
Pond Additives
The past newsletters I have put in information on U.V. lights and pumps. In this newsletter I will put info on pond additives, the use of chemicals and use of pond enzymes. I am not a mother earth person if I have to use a chemical in my system I will, but I prefer not to. I use chemicals as a last resort; String algae control is a favored use of chemicals. But I’m not going to dwell on that topic now. For now I would like to pass on info about the use of pond enzymes, friendly bacteria, beneficial bacteria’s, all of these descriptions are about the same product.

There is a misconception about this product it is not a chemical it is a living breathing organism. It's one and only one purpose, is for food and reproduction. Sounds like all living breathing beings doesn't it? The source of food is the waste from animals that live in your pond and visit your pond. Fish, frogs, turtles, dragon fly larva, snails, birds bathing, etc., all these animals will extrude waste in your water as Ammonia, urine, and feces. This form of waste must be broken down into harmless nitrates, which your water plants will take up as a food source.

There are also forms of bacteria that will break down sludge that accumulates in the bottom of your system. Now bear in mind this process of biological sludge control will take months before the sludge is gone. However if you have a lot of build up in the bottom of your pond from leaves, and other wind blown debris I would recommend to remove it by cleaning your pond and not waiting on the natural process of the bacteria for removal.

We want good guy bacteria which is called aerobic bacteria or Nirosomonas bacteria and all their relatives. These friendly bugs require food, water and oxygen to survive, we furnish this and in turn they give us live fish that are healthy, clear water, a properly functioning filter and most important water quality. Always remember you can have crystal clear water but that does not guarantee water quality.

Ok, now the bacteria that remove sludge are workhorses of your pond, they break down solids, even if you clean your pond from all solids these wonderful bugs are there. You cannot see them but they are there. If you do not clean your systems such as your filters and skimmers on a regular basics then oxygen levels will start to drop, ammonia and nitrites will build you will loose your fish and filter system. Your good guy bacteria will not be aerobic which means with oxygen they now anaerobic which means without oxygen. The process of breaking down wastes both solids, and soluble waste has stopped. Heavy fish loads, slow turn over of water volume, not running your pump 24/7 will also cause problems with your water quality, you are depleting your system of oxygen. Now everything suffers.

Many of you may know how some bacteria occur. Many years ago people that raised fish, lobsters, shrimp and other crustations would start their filter systems by tossing a dead fish in the system. Now why would they do that? Well bacteria’s will occur to break down the waste of the dead animal. Yes that works, but oh my gosh, what a stinky mess! Thank goodness there are better, more efficient, convenient ways to start the process of denitrificating in our systems. Yes, I have done the old methods, Uck!

We now rely on labs to manufacture these little workhorses for our ponds.
These same labs are working hard to find new strains of these wonderful little bugs. Not only does the watergarden industry rely on these products but as I mentioned earlier the folks that raise fresh water fish for our tables, but those also who raise salt-water food products as well. I like to remind people that everything that lives and breaths has to go potty! So we must use products that will eliminate these toxins. Now for these products that line the shelves of watergarden centers, big box stores, garden centers, on-line retailers.
Ok now for the truth in products!
#1 How many gallons of water will the product treat?
#2 Is it a dry or liquid product?
#3 At what water temperature will it start working?
#4 Are there other additives in with it?
#5 Is it for fresh or salt water application?
#6 Does it have all the different strains of bacteria?
#7 Do you know how fresh the product is? How long has it been on the shelf? Has it been stored in a warehouse with no temperature control?
#8 The price?
As you have noticed I put in the price as the last item to check. I understand about price, however if all the items I listed are not filled on the required list then price will not make the product right for your pond. A pretty package does not mean it works any better than any other product. But, do your shopping, read labels, and ask questions. One more thing it is not a chemical!
If you have any questions be sure and call or you can e-mail at 63linda@crawler.com.

Spring and Your Fish
Spring time can be very hard on our fish. As they come out of winter dormancy they are in a weakened condition. When you start your feeding program make sure you are using a spring or fall fish food. Their digestive systems cannot handle the heavier summer foods.
The fish are also more vulnerable to cold-water parasites.

Start the season by getting any and all solid debris from the bottom of your pond, clean your filters also. The solid debris left in the bottom of your pond provides areas for parasites and bacteria to live in. Here is a list of disease, parasites and treatments only use treatments if needed.
Start your spring season by using the beneficial bacteria to help dissolve organic waste build. The bacteria is needed to keep ammonia, nitrites build up in safe levels.

Diseases or parasites:
Aeromonas is a bacterial disease: Cause by parasite infestation.
Aeramonas Stage #1 a slight reddening on sides of belly, raised scales, and redness will appear at the base of the anal/pelvic fins. (Feed a medicated food).
Aeromonas Stage #2 Red lesions, holes, open wounds, severe degradation of fin base. (Feed a medicated food) treat with Melafix.
Aeramonas Stage #3 this stage is usually fatal, open wounds are usually deep into the muscle; tissues and bones can easily be seen. Eyes are starting to bulge, fish has become bloated.
Treatment: High doses of Melafix are suggested, medicated food, isolation is recommended. However destroying is usually recommended, to end it's suffering.
Anchor Worm: Red pimples on fish that develops into whitish protrusions that look like 1/2 long splinters.
Treatment: Dimilin, watch for above mentioned bacteria infections.
Dropsy: Fish become bloated and scales stick straight away from body, giving the fish a pinecone appearance. Dropsy usually occurs in the alter stages of a bacteria infection.
Treatment: Isolation tank with warm water and treat with Melafix. If a tank cannot be used then treat pond with Melafix.
Fin/mouth rot: Bacteria infection in the fins or mouth will literally rot away. Causes are dirty filters, dirty ponds.
Treatment: Clean, clean, clean, treat pond with salt and Melafix. Leave salt in for 2 weeks then change out water. Melafix treatments should be followed according to manufactures directions.
Fungus: White coating on fish, the fish will have a fuzzy appearance. Dirty ponds, dirty filters, can be a primary cause, however a secondary infection from parasites will cause fungal infections, trauma from mishandling your fish can also cause infections.
Treatment: Melafix and salt. Word of note if you have your pond cleaned by a someone other than yourself make sure they know to properly care for you fish. I have known people to loose their entire fish collections due to the inexperienced people cleaning ponds. Be careful whom you hire.
Ich: White spots appear, caused by parasite. Ich usually attacks goldfish, but Koi can be affected.
Treatment: Use a good paraside additive, or you can use non-Iodized salt at a rate of 1lb. per 50 gallon of water, you should also use Melafix to prevent a secondary infection.( CAUTION) If you use a paraside do not use salt or Melafix.
Pox: White raised like spots, usually seen in colder temperatures.
Treatment: Not treatable, use a mild salt treatment for stress, usually disappears in warmer water. Pox will always be present, it usually will not kill your fish, but your fish will always have the pox in their system. After a period of years, the fish usually dies from the stress of the disease. I had a Koi that lived many years with the disease. It looks horrible for a while, but will clear up.
Swim Bladder: Fish looses ability to float or keep balance in the pond. The fish flounders in the bottom of the pond, or will have head down and tail pointed up. This is an internal infection usually fatal. The fish will generally slowly drown which is a horrible way to die, so do your pet a favor and humanly put it down.
Treatment: None at this time.

There are other protozoa’s that affect your fish this time of the year. Treatment is safe and will not hurt or harm anything. Put non-iodized salt in your pond at a rate of 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per hundred leave in your pond for 2 weeks, then do a heavy water change, the salt will kill off the adults as well as future generations. After salt treatment add Melafix to ensure no bacterial infections will occur.
Always remember that your fish's immune system is their slime coat, anything that damages or penetrates that slime coat can lead to an infection.

Unsolicited Emails
It has come to my attention that some members are getting unsolicited emails from an outside source. This is coming from a person or persons who are not members of the society, they have not received permission from the members to send this advertisement. We do apologize for this, but we are not giving any information to these persons.

The watergarden society does not, nor will it ever give your name, phone #, address, or e-mail to any persons or businesses. If you are receiving these emails or mailings please let me or Dave Simmons, Debbie Cushing or Ken Grozinger know and we will be happy to end the intrusion.
Linda

Garden Makeover
Time is slipping away to submit a name or names to the Extreme garden make over. Send the name or names of a worthy person to Ian Donnelly or me by Mid-April. This is going to be such a wonderful gift to someone who needs a real emotional lift. We want to put smiles on someone face. So with your help we will do it.
Pond Tour
Pond tour is getting closer and closer, WE WANT YOU. CALL ME AT 8832399, Linda and I will be most happy to sign you up.

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"
"Part 3"
***Step 4 of 15 part series***
Step 4: Choose a greenhouse size to suit your needs.
Available space and cost usually have a large impact on the choice of size for a hobby greenhouse. Keep in mind, however, that a greenhouse that is too small may cost more to operate than the initial cost of building a larger one. The obvious problem with a small greenhouse is that it is too small to meet the needs of the owner. In addition, temperatures can fluctuate rapidly in a small greenhouse, and heat losses can be as high as they are in a larger greenhouse. Small houses may also have limited headroom and be hard to work in. A taller, larger greenhouse obviously has more space, and it heats and cools more uniformly than a shorter, smaller one.
As a starting point, 100 square feet would be a minimum size, but 200 square feet is better. A house 9 to 14 feet wide by 20 feet long can be managed in a few hours per week. A larger greenhouse can also cost less to cover per square foot than a small greenhouse, so choose a size slightly larger than you think you need. On the other hand, ask yourself, do you have the time and dedication to maintain a large greenhouse, now and in the future?
Dr. Dave

Paint a Faux Pewter Finish
The look of pewter finish can be yours in only four easy steps.

Although it might look like hammered metal, you can create a pewter (silver) finish by topping a dark silver base coat with two lighter hues of metallic silver paint.

What You Need
·                       Latex paints: dark silver, medium silver, light silver (You can add the darker paint to the lighter paint to darken)
·                       Household paintbrush
·                       Sea sponge or foam brush
·                       Polyurethane finish
·

Instructions
1.            Brush the ornament and clean off any dirt of loose material. Wash and let dry. Paint with a latex primer of your choice.
2.            Using a household paintbrush, apply two coats of dark latex silver paint (or dark grey) over all surfaces, allowing the paint to dry thoroughly between coats.
3.            Using a sea sponge or paint brush, apply lighter silver (or pewter paint) in a medium, then light hue, allowing the dark metallic silver to show in some areas. You can add the darker color paint to the lighter colored paint to darken it slightly. Use a separate small container for this. Let dry.
4.            Spray or brush with polyurethane as desired. You can also use a good floor wax to seal the ornament.

NOTE: The finish of pewter on ornaments and pots is a matter of individual taste. Test your paints and techniques before you do your final piece.

Dr. Dave

March 2009
Happy St. Patrick's Day

We had a blast at the February meeting, there was a great turn out to welcome Deb Spencer as our program speaker. Her info on the pond-less waterfalls was a real crowd pleaser. These systems almost take care of themselves, all the attention they need is to be topped off with water!

This type of water feature is becoming one of the most popular ways of enjoying water. You don't have to filter, or feed any fish or plants, the feature does not care if it is placed in sun or shade. All it needs is a power source for the pump and water. Consider one of these systems for that hard to fill area in your yard.

We had 25 wonderful garden and pond related items for give a-ways and door prizes. Everyone was pleased with what we had, that is those that won something. We had pond lights, painted containers, pond supplies, statues, gardening pots. The club would like to thank Water's Edge of Lawrence Kansas, Debbie Cushing, Springfield Watergarden Society and O'Quinn's for donating the wonderful give a-ways.

The March meeting will be fun and informative also. There will be some "DIY" demonstrations on various garden related items. Dave Simmons, Jim Silzell, Ian Donnelly, Debbie Cushing and myself (Linda) will be the demonstrators. For more details check page three.

We have some more fun meetings planned for the upcoming year!

Believe it or not it is time to sign up for the pond tour for 2009 call me Linda at 417 883-2399, we are like Uncle Sam, WE WANT YOU!

March Meeting
March 12
7:00 p.m.
St. John's Cancer Center, 2055 S. Fremont

Do it yourself garden projects;

Dave Simmons will demonstrate how to make Tufa rocks, he will also show us how to paint concrete to look like Pewter, Jim Silzell and Ian Donnelly will show us how to make beautiful stained glass windows for outside and inside the house, I am going to show you how to make a fun bird's nest and Debbie Cushing is going to show you how to make cling-on sun catchers and stain-glass look for your windows using Gallery Glass Paint.

Guess what we will have some more great give a-ways, BE THERE!!!!

Watch Pond Temperatures
It is time to start watching your pond temps. When the water temps are in the upper 40's it's time to start using your beneficial bacteria. The fish are going to slowly start coming from their winter hibernation, their food intake will be very slow of course.

Get your filter system clean and functioning soon.

Be sure and start feeding your fish with a good spring and fall food, it's also a good idea to feed them a medicated food.

This time of the year is hard on fish, they are still weak from the long winter and this places them in jeopardy. They are prey for cold-water protozoa's and fish parasites. Before I do a full clean out on my pond I like to salt it. The salt will kill off a lot of these nasty varmints, but it will not kill all of them, but the salt will kill off 90%. We want to kill the adults as well as the future generations. If you decide to salt your pond know your gallons, always use non-iodized salt. Mix the salt as best you can and dispense through out the system. Leave the salt in your pond for 10-14 days; it will take this long to kill the predators. Amounts I recommend are 1 to 1-1/2 cups per 100 gallons. If you decide your pond does not need a thorough cleaning it is still a good idea to salt your pond.

After the recommend time and after you've cleaned out your pond there are few things to remember. When refilling your system make sure and use your declor, turn your hose on half strength and lay the hose on the edge of the pond, or it can come through your waterfall or filter system. Clean new water is what we want to start the season. If your pond has the same water as last year and it has sat there all fall and winter, if you shut your pumps down the water will get dirtier than normal, stale and stagnant, UCK.
A clean, healthy, wholesome, pond is what your fish need.

A Happy Water Garden

I love this crazy passion called water gardening; each day is a new experience. Watching Koi or goldfish happily swimming around in the pond is one of our little small joys. Seeing the first lily bloom of the year puts a smile on our face, it's as though this is the first time we have seen a lily bloom. Also, the excitement of knowing that finally, a lotus is going to bloom. The joys of spring when we see our Iris bloom. I mean what else could make us so happy? Why having a watergarden what else.

To make these events happy on a regular basic, there are things we must do. To keep your fish happy you have got to be a part time vet, choose the best food, keep their home clean that means the pond and the filter. When the amount of fish exceeds the size of the pond be a good steward and get rid of extra babies. To keep your plants growing at their optimum you have got to repot, divide them and of course feed them.

Some of these tasks require monthly attention, sometimes yearly or every other year maintenance is requited. These duties are not hard just a little time consuming, but the rewards are striking. Keep your fish in a happy home, keep it clean, aerated, use the best products possible, and remember this is the home you have chosen for your fish. They rely on you to keep them healthy.

Good fish, plant or pond maintenance is not hard or expensive, but it has to be done. The rewards just keep on coming. Keep the earth happy it's the only planet that has watergardens!!!!!

Choosing a Pump
I had a member that asked about pumps at the February meeting. The question was the familiar question as to the best pump on the market. I don't know. I have my choices but that's another story. When you choose a pump always look past that price tag. I know that's easy to say and hard to do. However there are choices to consider.

#1; size your pump correctly; the common mistake people make is not getting a large enough pump. Calculate your gallons, lift, type of filter or filters; sight and sounds enter into selection.
#2; if you are replacing a pump make sure the new pump will fit your plumbing.
#3 Check your warranties, a one year warranty usually means it is a throw away pump that you cannot purchase replacement parts for.
#4; how much power will this new pump require, is it efficient? You will be running this pump 24-7.
#5; If you have skimmer will fit into the box.
#6; if you do not have a skimmer. make sure your pump is fish friendly and also has protection from debris. This is a major purchase so make choices that will suit your system.

The Over Wintered Tropical Plants
For those who have tropical water plants that you have over wintered and they have pups or divisions. To ensure that you will have success with the new plants, when it's time to put them outside, or pot them up and keep them inside, or in your greenhouse there are some sure fire things to do.

If you have Taros, Cannas, Gingers, Umbrella palms, Papyrus etc. put the divisions in a 4-6 inch pot, use your usual soil for water plants. However do not put the plant in water. Instead water them in well and keep them moist, you can place them in a very, very shallow container just enough to cover the drain hole, as the plants grow then you can slowly lower them into deeper water. A rule of thumb is if the plant has doubled in height then add one inch of water to the depth.(i.e. if you had a 3 inch plant and now it's a six inch plant, you had placed in 1 of water then you can lower it to 2 inches of water), until it can be grown in the recommended depth of water, at this time you can place it in a larger container, if needed. While the plant is growing in the shallow container you can put your fertilizer in the water directly and let the plant take it up constantly. You can use a balanced water soluble fertilizer is fine, a 20-20-20- would be sufficient. But remember to switch your fertilizers to those formulated for water plants when you put the plant in the water. If you have questions let me know.
Linda
Plant Sale
Don't forget the PLANT SALE on Saturday April the 25^th at Nathaniel Greene Park!
WE WANT YOUR EXTRA PLANTS!

You can bring them to me the 23^rd. If Possible have them tagged.

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE GO DIRECTLY TO THE CLUB.

Celebrating 25 Years!
O'Quinn's will be celebrating a 25 year anniversary.
There will be a open house on April the 4th & 5th.
On the 4th from 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. we will have a 25% sale on everything in the house, on the 5th from 2:00 P.m.-4:00 P.M same 25 % discount. Items will be pumps, filters, pond additives, fish food, filter media, U.V. lights, everything in the house, this discount not cover orders. This will be time to restock your shelves, if you need a new pump or anything pond related if we got it, it's on sale.
Join us for this anniversary.
We are proud of this milestone; O'Quinn's is the oldest watergarden center in the state.
If you have any questions call O'Quinn's at 417- 883-2399

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

"Part 2"
***Steps 1,2,3 of 15 part series***

Step 1: Decide what plants you wish to grow, what times of year you will use the greenhouse, and how a greenhouse fits into your lifestyle.
For example, you might want to use the greenhouse in one of the following ways:
To start vegetable or flower seeds or propagate cuttings in the spring to plant in the garden. On a small scale, this can be accomplished with a structure as simple as an outdoor cold frame or hotbed. A freestanding greenhouse can also be used for this purpose but will probably be a simple and inexpensive model.
To grow year-round tropical foliage in a conservatory setting. A greenhouse for this purpose will probably be more permanent and formal.
To grow specialty flowers or ornamentals. Many greenhouses are constructed because owners develop an interest in specialty flowers or ornamentals that have unique requirements, such as orchids, African violets, or bromeliads. These greenhouses should be designed with the needs of the particular plant in mind.
A hobby greenhouse can be a part of your home in the form of a sun-room or porch. Sun-rooms or porches usually have clear covering on one or more sides but not on the roof. A greenhouse can also be attached to the house, with an entrance to the living area. Plants, walks, furniture, a water pond, or a fountain may also be included and arranged formally or informally as an extended living room..
Step 2: Decide what style of greenhouse to build.
A-frame, gable roof, straight-side lean-to, curved-side lean-to, and slant-side lean-to (Figures 1a-g and Figures 2a-c). Some styles are more suited to flexible coverings like polyethylene, such as the dome, Gothic arch, Quonset, curved-side lean-to, and tri-penta. Others work better with rigid coverings like glass or plastic, including the A-frame, gable roof, slant-side, and straight- or slant-side lean-to. Some design styles are more efficient to heat and cool, such as the gable roof and Quonset. Others may look unusual and attractive but are difficult to construct or heat and cool, such as the dome and tri-penta. The A-frame style is easy to construct and is inexpensive, but the usable growing area is small and awkward, and the shape may not blend well with normal surroundings. The most commonly used styles are the gable roof, Gothic arch, Quonset, and slant-side lean-to.
In addition to deciding what style your greenhouse should be, you need to decide whether it will be freestanding or whether it will be attached to your home. Freestanding, can be constructed in a wider range of styles, can be larger, and can offer greater flexibility in location than attached greenhouses can. These greenhouses can be placed almost anywhere in the landscape where the ground is level and adequate light is available. The most widely used styles are the gable roof, Gothic arch, Quonset, and slant-side.
Attached greenhouses are attached to your home or other structures (as my shed) and may or may not have an entrance to the home. They can be designed to blend with the architecture and landscape of the home and are useful where space is limited. An attached greenhouse may also cost less per square foot to build than a freestanding greenhouse. With an inside entrance, you can maintain the greenhouse without going outside during bad weather. Utilities such as electricity, water, and heat can be shared with the home if a greenhouse is planned for during home construction. If the greenhouse is attached later, you may need an additional heater because greenhouses lose heat five to ten times faster than an equivalent area of home. The cost of heating an attached greenhouse may be less than that of heating a freestanding greenhouse of the same floor area because one wall is not exposed; however, attached greenhouses usually receive less light for the same reason. My greenhouse faces the south and that should be a consideration. Straight-side lean-to, slant-side lean-to, and curved-side lean-to styles are ideally suited for small, easy-to-construct attached greenhouses (Figures 2a-c), although the Quonset, gothic arch, slant-side, and gable roof (Figure 2d) freestanding styles can also be attached. A solid foundation similar to the house foundation is often required or highly desirable for attached greenhouses. Joining and sealing the greenhouse to the house needs special attention. Consult an architect or building contractor to determine the method of attachment.

Step 3: Choose a location for your greenhouse.
Often, there may be a limited choice of locations that will have adequate sunlight, adequate soil drainage, easy access for people and materials, access to utilities, and a pleasing blend with the landscape. For many homeowners, the appearance of the structure is most important, so compromises must be made to meet other location requirements.
One of the most important location requirements is sun exposure. Many flowering potted plants require full sun to perform well. A freestanding greenhouse for these plants should be constructed with the long sides of the building facing southeast to southwest (Figure 3). Vegetable and flower seedlings for transplanting outdoors in the spring need maximum sunlight, so choose a location that receives full sun. For plants requiring less light, the greenhouse can face northeast to southeast or northwest to southwest. Exposure is particularly important for attached greenhouses. Consider these locations in order: first--south or southeast, second--east, third--southwest, fourth--west, and last--north. Keep in mind that a western exposure can be too hot in summer, and a northern exposure usually does not receive enough light for most plants. Also be aware that tall structures and trees near the greenhouse may block light for parts of the day. Falling limbs can also be a major problem if the greenhouse is located too close to trees.
Other location considerations include ensuring that the site is level and that the soil drains well. Many locations may have to be graded to ensure that the foundation is level. Slope the soil away from the greenhouse to drain rainwater away. If drainage is a problem, consider installing drainage tile before constructing the greenhouse.
Avoid low areas with poor air drainage, especially those surrounded by woods or buildings. Cold, humid air can stagnate in these locations and increase heating costs. Conversely, avoid high elevations with direct exposure to strong winter winds. Convective heat loss through the covering material can increase heating demand.
The greenhouse should be convenient to a driveway to receive supplies and to haul away plants or garbage when needed. Walkways to and from the garden, house, and storage areas and access to water, fuel for heating, and electricity should all be considered.
The greenhouse should contribute to the appearance of the home and landscape and not be an eyesore either to the owner or neighbors. Consider room for expansion if you think you may be so inclined in the future.
NOTE: The information above and the "parts" of this column to follow are a composite of website material and personal information. Linda Siler, our President, is much more experienced with maintaining greenhouses, and will be including some of her thoughts in the near future.

Be sure to keep "up to date" as the rest of the series appears in upcoming newsletters.

Dr. Dave

You will be able to purchases chances at the September picnic at the Ware’s, the October meeting at the Simmons’s, then again at Gary and Marcy Brown’s cookout (more on the cookout in the next newsletter) in October and one more time at Jim Silzell’s with the drawing being after desserts.

October Meeting

Step 12: Decide how to cool your greenhouse.

Step 13: Decide how to provide utilities to your greenhouse.

Step 14: Choose work and storage areas.

Step 15: Follow the greenhouse "do's" and "don'ts."

Do's:

Don'ts:

Pond Tour

The Big Battle

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

Step 5: Choose a covering material.

Glass is expensive and tempered glass and double-strength float glass (1/8 inch thick) can be out of most gardener’s price range.

Polyethylene film (PE) is a good choice for home-built greenhouses because less structural support is required and it costs much less than other materials.

Fiberglass reinforced panels (FRPs) are rigid plastic panels made from acrylic or polycarbonate that come in large corrugated or flat sheets.

Step 6: Choose the framing materials.

Step 7: Choose the foundation and sidewall materials.

Step 4: Choose a greenhouse size to suit your needs.

Pond Additives

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

Step 4: Choose a greenhouse size to suit your needs.

Paint a Faux Pewter Finish

March Meeting

Watch Pond Temperatures

Plant Sale

Don't forget the PLANT SALE on Saturday April the 25^th at Nathaniel Greene Park!

WE WANT YOUR EXTRA PLANTS!

You can bring them to me the 23^rd. If Possible have them tagged.

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE GO DIRECTLY TO THE CLUB.

Celebrating 25 Years!

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

Step 1: Decide what plants you wish to grow, what times of year you will use the greenhouse, and how a greenhouse fits into your lifestyle.

Step 2: Decide what style of greenhouse to build.

Step 3: Choose a location for your greenhouse.

“SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE”

Step 1: Decide what plants you will grow, what times of year you will use the greenhouse, and how a greenhouse fits into your lifestyle.

Do's:

Don'ts:

You will be able to purchases chances at the September picnic at the Ware’s, the October meeting at the Simmons’s, then again at Gary and Marcy Brown’s cookout (more on the cookout in the next newsletter) in October and one more time at Jim Silzell’s with the drawing being after desserts.

October Meeting

Step 12: Decide how to cool your greenhouse.

Step 13: Decide how to provide utilities to your greenhouse.

Step 14: Choose work and storage areas.

Step 15: Follow the greenhouse "do's" and "don'ts."

Do's:

Don'ts:

Pond Tour

The Big Battle

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

Step 5: Choose a covering material.

Glass is expensive and tempered glass and double-strength float glass (1/8 inch thick) can be out of most gardener’s price range.

Polyethylene film (PE) is a good choice for home-built greenhouses because less structural support is required and it costs much less than other materials.

Fiberglass reinforced panels (FRPs) are rigid plastic panels made from acrylic or polycarbonate that come in large corrugated or flat sheets.

Step 6: Choose the framing materials.

Step 7: Choose the foundation and sidewall materials.

Step 4: Choose a greenhouse size to suit your needs.

Pond Additives

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

Step 4: Choose a greenhouse size to suit your needs.

Paint a Faux Pewter Finish

March Meeting

Watch Pond Temperatures

Plant Sale

Don't forget the PLANT SALE on Saturday April the 25th at Nathaniel Greene Park!

WE WANT YOUR EXTRA PLANTS!

You can bring them to me the 23rd. If Possible have them tagged.

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE GO DIRECTLY TO THE CLUB.

Celebrating 25 Years!

"SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE"

Step 1: Decide what plants you wish to grow, what times of year you will use the greenhouse, and how a greenhouse fits into your lifestyle.

Step 2: Decide what style of greenhouse to build.

Step 3: Choose a location for your greenhouse.

“SO, YOU WANT TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE”

Step 1: Decide what plants you will grow, what times of year you will use the greenhouse, and how a greenhouse fits into your lifestyle.

Do's:

Don'ts:

Don't forget the PLANT SALE on Saturday April the 25^th at Nathaniel Greene Park!

You can bring them to me the 23^rd. If Possible have them tagged.