Thursday, April 10th
Felt like deja vu as we sat in Elena Murillo and Monica and Gil Morley’s garage listening to
the tornado siren go off. Yep, we’d done that same thing before at another time, but in the same
garage. Fortunately, there was no tornado and my car did not sustain $800.00 worth of hail damage
like last time, too!
This was the first of our Thursday night pond meetings (36 members and 1visitor attending).
A sure sign that spring is here, as we begin our “twice a month” meeting schedule. President,
Monica Morley, was our hostess, although the weather prevented us from enjoying the meeting
outside. The meeting began early with a complete dinner served to everyone. Yummy food; and a
big thank you to anyone who brought additional sides.
After our dinner, we moved to the garage where Monica introduced our guest speaker,
Chuck Porto, Retail Manager from Iowa City Landscaping & Garden Center. He gave a great talk
on Gardening for the Seasons, showed a beautiful slide show. He talked about the different plants
available for all season color and answered questions from all. I know my wish list of beautiful
shrubs that I was scribbling in the margin of my notebook extended the full length of the page.
Chuck is also giving the club 10% off pond plants and water gardening supplies (includes fountains
& water bowls).
After his talk, we moved back into the house where Monica began with the regular business
meeting . She began by thanking the crowd for coming and introducing new members: Doris
and Richard Klopping and Tony Patti, owner of AJ’s Garden Art in Homestead.
There was no treasurer’s report, as we will only be giving it once a month during our Saturday
meetings (However, if you ever have any questions, just contact me anytime.) Monica gave a
update on the pond tour, she announced that they have 6 ponds signed up and are still looking for
2 or 3 more in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area. Monica explained the club benefits greatly from the
funds generated from the tour.
Monica mentioned that 2008 membership dues are now due. You will not receive a May
newsletter if not current with your dues.
Monica also passed out packets she put together with tons of interesting miscellaneous
information. Algae Control, fish kill information, Koi types, Rosie and Herman Michel put together
a extensive list the E.I.P.S. library has available to all members, and finally a questionnaire she’d
like turned in on How Did Your Pond Wake Up From The Winter.
VP, Dave Bell, led our 3P’s section of the meeting (Plants, Products, & Problems). I talked
about the recent winter fish losses and encouraged members to evaluate their ponds now to prevent
future losses.
Numerous door prizes were given away. Be sure to mail in your pre-made thank you postcards.
The Geers have made it extra easy for us to thank our very generous supporters by making
preaddressed, easy to mail post cards. What a great idea!
Dennis Sindelar announced the Eastern Iowa Aquarium Assoc. annual fish and supply auction
April 27th at the El Kahir Shrine Center on Blairs Ferry Rd.
Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted, Jackie Allsup
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Our regular Saturday meeting was held at the home of Stephanie and Bob Geers of Cedar Rapids. Although a chilly evening, we still got the grand tour of his self-made ponds and waterfalls. Bob started by telling us about his pond and surrounding beautiful shady garden.
President, Monica Morley, began the meeting by introducing new members Bob and Cecilia Bisenius, speaker, Laura Krouse, and guest, Heather Adams, Washington High School teacher. She thanked the Geers for hosting the meeting and providing a huge table of appetizers and drinks for the 20 members in attendance. She reminded members that 2008 dues are due and newsletters will not be mailed to members who have not renewed. I gave a treasure’s report. Income for April was from membership dues only and totaled $140.00. Expenses are as follows: newsletter $71.98, stamps $41.00, speaker fees $100.00, Don Joggerst memorial $25.00, and Brucemore promotion $35.00 for a total of $272.98 expenses. Total treasury = $4,526.23.
Pond tour was the only other committee to report. We now have 9 ponds on the tour. Monica talked briefly about a “Garden Working PARTY” at Michel’s. In appreciation for Herman and Rosie opening up their pond and grounds for the pond tour and new art/craft event and plant sale, we would volunteers to do last minute touchup before the tour. All volunteers are appreciated. A July 5th date was announced, but that may be changed as it was realized it’s the 4th of July weekend and that’s a busy vacation time for most. More on this later. (See page 7 for additional details and new date.)
There was no old business. For new business, Monica passed a sheet from Jan and Dave Potter, who have 3 koi for sale. Call 377-4527 if interested. She also passed around a sheet offering free goldfish from the Morley pond. She also passed out various handouts including a flyer from “In the Country Garden and Gifts’ May 10th & 11th open house, catalogs from Still Pond Farm and Oakes Daylilies, and folders full of lots of ponding information. She also reminded members of the EIAA Spring Auction.
Our guest speaker was Laura Krouse. She gave a very interesting talk on our nation’s water management
programs, pollutants, and rain gardens. Her expertise is overwhelming. She gave us a lot of things to consider in a very short time. Laura runs Abby Hills Farm CSA in Mt. Vernon and can be reached at 895-6924 if you need any additional information or need a real expert in soil and water conservation.
Dave, started his 3P’s section by showing and telling members about a new inexpensive timer device he recently purchased that attaches to your outside water hydrant. It automatically shuts water off at a preset time. (Great for us old timers who walk off, get busy doing other things, and forget the water is running in our ponds). The Bells also brought in numerous plants to share with members. Monica reminded members to please be sure to save some of those divided plants for our pond tour plant sale.
Heather Adams talked about a Grant Wood Elementary School project and asked the club for direction and
possible plant and equipment donations. They want to install “something”, maybe not a pond that requires a lot of maintenance, but something that will be used by their grade school students to learn about butterflies, water plants, and life cycles. She is open to all ideas and would be grateful for any ideas and donations you can come up with to help her. Her conversations had the whole club laughing. Monica asked her to get a little more information for us as to what the school is willing to do. A rain garden at their site sounded like a really good idea after listening to Laura’s talk.
Camilla Bernhardt asked the club whether we felt her turtle’s would poke holes in a liner pond. Most members felt they would not because of their type and size.
I gave a call out for free goldfish. Anybody that has some they want to be rid of, please contact me, as I have a large pond to fill for a friend. 934-3665.
We again had a ton of door prizes to give away. Meeting was adjourned and Bob invited everyone back out to the back yard to see the pond at night with his night lighting. A great place for evening entertaining.
Respectfully submitted, Jackie Allsup
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