Are You Ready for Spring?

Meeting Date	Thu, Apr 14, 2005 7:00 PM - Thu, Apr 14, 2005 9:00 PM

will be the date for our first meeting of the year.

The Pikes Peak Water Garden Society meetings are held every 2nd Thursday from April to September.  Most meetings start at 7:00 PM and wrap up around 9:00 to 9:30 PM.

This year our meetings will once again be held at the Mountain View Church of Christ located at 1080 East La Salle Street.  This is at the west end of Constitution Avenue on the southwest corner.

Enter through the east door on the north side of the church.

To see a map for the meeting location, click on the Link Below

Mountain View Church of Christ

---

Meeting Minutes

Pikes Peak Water Garden Society
General Meeting Minutes
April 14, 2005

Meeting called to order at 7:40 PM by Bob Pollock, President, at the Mountain View Church of Christ. 87 people were in attendance.

Dick first introduced the meeting change of location and the unique decorations that were in place. The church was having a youth workshop with 300 youth from 4 states. Their theme was “Riding The Waves Of Life” and the main part of the church was decorated as a under the seascape. Above were bottoms of boats, divers and other top water stuff while the walls and front looked like under the sea. The corral reef details made you feel just like you were underwater.

Dick presented the treasurers report, currently the club has $5,332.09 total club funds. This includes 1 Honorary membership, 88 paid memberships.

Bob discussed some general club information including the workshops. The Union Printers workshop will be held before the next meeting.

Ron reported the membership information and that cards for those paid before the newsletter were included in the mailing.

Betty reported that she was again selling pots and fertilizer tabs.

Bob then started discussing what needed to be done to get ready for spring. The recent snow added water to the ponds but also chilled the water and may have caused waterfalls to cool the water even more.

It is now time to clean the bottoms and think about raising plants up from the bottom. Rock bottom ponds hold more bacteria and need to be cleaned thoroughly.

Many people put in small ponds and want to dig bigger. Bob started with a wading pool and moved up to a swimming pool liner. Then on up to other designs to his current configuration.

Koi and lilies do not do very good as Koi eat the lily roots and new shoots.

Ron was then asked for input and he passed the question on to the room about what issues and topics were of interest.

Someone asked if having a pond caused you house to be of less value. Two realtors were in the audience and they have sold ponds and feel it is better to list your property in the spring or summer. This will allow you pond to be in top condition and look it’s best. The water garden needs to be balanced and look like it all goes together. Even buyers that are not pond people may be interested when they see the view.

Jock has looked into new liner materials to replace EDPM types. The subject of liners and repairs led Ron to tell his winter chopping the ice story. He was trying to make a hole in the ice and realized the shore line had moved from where he expected. His well placed chop brought dirt and water boiling up as he split the liner. Moral of the story Don’t chop the ice or the liner, use warm water to open a hole if your pond freezes over.

Joan then talked about the city water restrictions. They may have more water available for the summer but not to start out the summer.

Ron talked about buying a pump for water circulation during the winter. He first purchased a cheaper pump and noticed that his electricity bill increased by $28. When the spring warm up happened and Ron unplugged the pump he noticed his bill going down again. He then purchased a better quality pump at a higher cost and the next winter noticed no increase in his electricity bill. This time his moral of the story was Buy a better quality pump and it will save you in the long run.

Bob then talked about having an AquaMat in the pond and to clean, just move it from side to side. This will allow you to clean around and under as well as shaking off some of the dirt. The algae does best if allowed to grow. Ted uses his to hide his pump and in pond filter. Tom used a plastic shelf unit to hold plants like and island. He then wrapped the entire unit with his AquaMat to hide the shelving unit and plant pots.

Someone asked about water sprinklers spaying into their pond. Bob talked about yard fertilizer and water draining into your pond. As long as the water flies thru the air and lands in the pond it is OK. Drainage and other pollutants that can kill weeds will kill your pond plants and fish.

Ron then showed a pond brush that could be used to provide additional filter capability.

Someone asked if the Cheerios in the newsletter was a joke. Bob laughed and proceeded to explain that the bran and fiber was a good way to help your fish’s digestive systems. Start feeding when the water is 55 degrees and avoid the higher protein foods until the water temperature gets to the 60’s. In the summer you can also feed your fish things like cucumbers, water melon and grapefruit. They will like the treats and the variety which may help you plants recover as well.

Ron then displayed the new door prize drawing box that Dick Williams had made during the winter. He also made a nice wooden box to hold the membership record cards.

Door prizes were given to the following:
Miniature Water Hyacinth donated by Dick and LaNell Williams to Ken Gray
Miniature Water Hyacinth donated by Dick and LaNell Williams to George Price
Miniature Water Hyacinth donated by Dick and LaNell Williams to Bill Sheaves
Turtle Crossing yard sign to Wayne Hume
Pond Tabs to Hans Wacther
Tranquility Fountain to Preston Lovett

The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted
Steve Carson
Secretary