Beneath The Surface. A Compendium of Facts, Fancy, Tidbits, Tips. 6:00pm. Jo & Gary Hunerdosse Red Fox Rd SE Cedar Rapids, IA

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1 EASTERN IOWA POND SOCIETY, INC Visit us at Officers: Beneath The Surface A Compendium of Facts, Fancy, Tidbits, Tips President Jo & Gary Hunerdosse 319/ gfhunk@mchsi.com Vice President To be announced at the February meeting. Secretary Jackie Allsup 319/ Cedarserviceja@aol.com February, 2007 First meeting of the year! Meet the new Presidents Jo & Gary Hunerdosse What s new for 2007? Get your thinking caps on. Check out last year s new ideas for the club. Take your own idea and get it in the works or choose from the many ideas written Make a difference get involved this year! Treasurer Pam Moore 319/ diverpub@yahoo.com Volunteers Editor Monica Morley 319/ mespirngcove@aol.com Co-Editor Maria Hamilton Webmaster Josh Spece 319/ Jspece@sbtek.net Librarian Ron & Edna Rife 319/ RifeRlrife@aol.com Saturday, February 24th 6:00pm Jo & Gary Hunerdosse Red Fox Rd SE Cedar Rapids, IA O ver 40 members celebrated 34th St th close then of a Directions: From 1st ave. E, take Cottage Grove to right on 34th St to Beaver Ave. Left on Beaver Ave then successful left onto year Indiandale at the November Rd and 18th turn meeting. left. Rd, then left on Trailridge. Follow it around to Red Fox Volunteers were recognized 34th is also accessible from Mt. Vernon Rd SE or from with Mt. awards Vernon and Rd a take writing East Post Rd to Trailridge then right onto Red Fox. pen engraved with Eastern Iowa Pond Society Inc. Happy Pondering for their Directions from the Aug newsletter participation in the Pond Expo, Pond Tour,

2 Splash! Beneath The Surface One of our newest members, Dave Bell, joined at the Expo He said he couldn t pass up the club membership at such a great rate. After going to a few meetings, he realized the benefits of being a member far exceeded the price of joining. He first started watergardening with a half whiskey barrel a number of years back. He also kept tropical fish in his youth. In spring of 2004, his pipe dream for many years finally became a reality.having his own pond. Watching the fish is probably what Dave and Janice enjoy most about their pond. The pond was designed so they could sit on the side and look down at the fish. One of their favorite plants are water lilies in bloom. They get a kick out of watching the plants dance when the fish are spawning. They have comet goldfish and shubunkin. Here are a few of their names Two-tone, Big Daddy, Big Mama, Little Daddy, Ghost, and Lucky. Dave spends his ponding time watching the fish and enjoying the fish. In warmer weather it includes cleaning the mechanical filter on a regular basis. They also look for new and better ways to do things, new and different plants and fish, and learning more about keeping and raising fish and plants. He designed his own pond featuring the below ground part (the pit) which is about two feet deep and was done so the fish could be wintered over in the pond. When the pond temperature drops, he drains the water down to ground level so the above ground part is not destroyed by expanding ice. The overflow of the veggie filter is a waterfall. They anticipate using the veggie filter as a nursery for next years spawn. Another advantage to having a veggie filter is that most of the floating plants that tend to block our view of the fish will be confined to the veggie filter. He is currently experimenting with wintering over water hyacinth and water lettuce to give the veggie filter a head start when spring comes. A frog that adopted the Bell s. Relocated to local pond due to danger to spawned fry. Original pond, deck & waterfall. Summer of P age 2 Shade the pond (at least 92% shade) to inhibit algae growth, promote and maintain color of your koi and keep water temperature cooler. KOI USA Magazine Pond covered for winter 06 Close up of veggie filter with de-icer Dec 06. Main pond drained to pit. New member, Ruth Rentschler, joined April, Ruth has visited many Eastern Iowa Pond Society pond tours. She also attended our first 2006 expo and decided joining was a good thing to get ideas and information. Ruth has been a water gardener for 6 years. She most enjoys hearing and watching the water move from her two-tier falls between the upper and lower ponds. Her favorite water plant is the water hyacinth. At this time she has no fish. Ponding time involves planting, landscaping, cleaning, planning and enjoyment Ruth has not yet joined the many of us who have fallen in the pond yet, but has come close. Take care not to strip the protective slime from your fish if you handle them. This coating helps them resist fungus and bacteria. KOI USA Magazine

3 P age 3 See My Garden Tours. Treasurer s Report submitted by Pam Moore January 28, 2007 Chicagoland Flower & Garden Show March 12 Cost: $55.00, includes transportation & admission Further details contact: Zora Ronan Deb Walser zronan@aol.com wadedorah@mchsi.com seemy gardentours@aol.com Check out the Show web site: You close your eyes and listen to the water trickling down the stream, the smell of hyacinths and tulips fill the air and you are transported to a beautiful warm spring day. Then you open your eyes and reality hits you are standing inside and it is the beginning of March. Last year Tom and I attended the garden show with Zora and Deb and enjoyed the respite from the cold winter season. The gardens & ponds that were recreated inside were amazing. The variety of seminars offered was outstanding and we enjoyed visiting the vendors. Monica and I have signed up and we are looking forward to a great time. Beginning Balance for January: $ Renew memberships $60.00 Ending Balance $ Meeting Schedule March 6pm * Moores & Nolans Cedar Rapids Photography by Curt Moore April 7pm * Larry & Erma Thompson Cedar Rapids Building a Greenhouse Enjoy our own members as speakers!!!! Maria Hamilton Photos from 2006 Show Over a Koi Pond by Larry Thompson Linn County 2007 Master Gardener Events Winter Gardening Fair February 24 9:00 am 4:00 pm Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids IA Creative Gardening Series Three lectures, topics to be announced March 24 March 31 April 17 Beems Auditorium Cedar Rapids IA Spring Plant Sale May 19 8:00 am Linn County Extension Marion Look for the Master Gardeners at: WMT Garden & Home Show March 9-11 Hawkeye Downs Cedar Rapids, IA Brucemore Garden & Art Show August 25 Brucemore Cedar Rapids IA Dates are subject to change

4 P age 4 From the Editor. The newsletter needs member participation. We are interested in anything you would like to share with the other members: Here are a few ideas: best fish food best plants products you have used fish medications problem-solving ideas photos with caption etc., etc, etc. February Birthdays Rose Milden February 6 Ron Rife February 13 Robert Ward February 14 Edna Rif e February 15 Tim Nolan February 16 Elena Murillo February 16 Pam Moore February 21 Quinn Nov ak February 21 If you would like your birthday printed in the newsletter, us at mespringcove@aol.com or sign in with the Hospitality Committee: Elena Murillo or Gil Morley. Deadline 25th each month for articles... You could win a PRIZE!!! Each time you submit something for the newsletter, your name will be entered into a drawing. Winner will be announced at the November meeting. Submit to mespingcove@aol.com or Monica Morley 6702 Spring Cove Ct NE Cedar Rapids, IA What happened on the day you were born. February Actor Joseph Cotton dies at the age of Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole, was born Tom Brokaw, NBC TV anchorman, was born. February Waylon Jennings, country singer, died The 15th Winter Olympics opens in Calgary, Alberta, Canada Jerry Springer, talk show host, was born Chuck Yeager, test pilot (broke the sound barrier), was born. February Walter Cronkite announces his retirement The League of Women V oters is established in Chicago Hugh Downs, TV personality, was born. February Postage stamps with adhesive on the back are sold for the fist time at the New York City post office In a split decision, Leon Spinks takes the heavyweight boxing champion title away from Muhammad Ali Harvey Korman, actor, was born Jane Seymour, actress, was born. Expo Committee: February The Silver Dollar is introduced as a US coin. Chairman 1959 John McEnro, tennis player, is born. Jackie Allsup: 1935 Sonny Bono is born. cedarserviceja@aol.com **** Robert Hollenbeck Herman Michel Tim Nolan Linda Nolan 1920 Patti Andrews, lead singer of the Andrew Sisters, is born. Roberta Ward Robert Ward Pam Moore Larry Thompson Kacy Novak Elena Murillo Gary Hunerdosse Monica Morley February The Washington Monument, one of the worlds s tallest masonry structures at 555 feet in height, is dedicated Kelsey Grammer, actor, is born. Erma Thompson Gil Morley 1927 Erma Bombeck, columnist, is born

5 Hosta of the Month by Josh Spece P age 5 Hosta Sagae Most Hosta species are native to Japan where they have been cultivated and collected for hundreds of years. Over the years, many Japanese Hostas have made their way to America and with them came their odd looking, strange sounding names. When Hosta Sagae was first introduced to the United States, it was called Hosta fluctuans Variegated. That name is invalid for several reasons according to the International Nomenclature Code, so in the mid 90 s American Hosta growers began adopting the correct Japanese name Sagae. The correct pronunciation is suh-ga-eh, but a native Japanese speaker will tell you Americans can not pronounce it correctly. Regardless of what you call it or how you pronounce it, Hosta Sagae is a tried and true classic and was awarded Hosta of the Year status in It forms a large, vase-shaped plant up to 30 inches high and five feet across. The broad heart-shaped leaves are frosty grey-green with an edge that starts out bright, golden yellow in the spring and fades to creamy white by mid-summer. The leaf margins are lightly wavy and the plant as a whole is truly distinct and unmistakable! Tall, arching scapes of pale lavender flowers emerge in mid-summer. Hosta Sagae has produced a number of sports probably the most widely known and dramatic being Liberty. Hosta Liberty has all the same excellent qualities of its parent, but the gold margin is much wider making for a spectacular show. Hosta Sagae will take up a good deal of garden space once mature, but it is space well Pictures courtesy of Carol Brashear Reminder Well the snow has finally found us. People thinking of putting in ponds want to know what happens to the pond during the winter snow. Take some pictures to share. Who knows, this could be the start of another photo contest.deadline will be in April. Your photos would be a great addition for the club table at the Expo. Monica In The Country Garden & Gifts. E.I.P.S. members receive a 10% discount. Must show your current membership card at time of purchase.

6 Pond Myths Busted P age 6 Myth: Maintaining a water garden is a constant headache. Fact: Ecologically balanced water gardens let Mother Nature do the heavy lifting. Make sure you install a water garden that works with Mother Nature not against her. Top quality ecosystem pond systems that include mechanical and biological filtration, lots of aquatic plants, fish, active bacteria, and plenty of rocks, are a good example. The result is minimal water testing and chemicals, no clogged filter. Stagnant water, or mucky bottoms that needs constant draining and cleaning Myth: You should never have algae in your pond. Fact: A proper proportion of green algae is considered beneficial. Fish eat it and it s part of the ecology of any living, healthy pond. Pristine, over-treated water is dead by comparison. Too much algae has a simple cause too much sunlight and plenty of nutrient rich water. That s why a well designed natural pond includes proper filtration to diminish the nutrients and help algae grow. And shade sources from landscaping and aquatic plants. Committee Chairmen Hospitality..Elena Murillo mespringcove@aol.com * Myth: Small water features are less work. Fact: Actually, the larger the water feature, the easier the maintenance. Aquarium hobbyist know it s much easier to achieve a healthy, stable tank with more water, not less. Small water features rarely have the flow or capacity necessary for long term stability, and soon need lots of maintenance. Regardless of the size, a properly designed pond is better able to achieve ecological balance, but as water gardens become larger, they also become more stable with each passing year as plants, bacteria colonies, and other vital live becomes established. Community Service open - no volunteers Recognition.Gil Morley mespringcove@aol.com * Commercial Relations Bob & Stephanie Geers hawkskier@yahoo.com * Writing...Monica Morley/Maria Hamilton.Volunteers Needed! Feb. 24, 2006 Winter Fair at Kirkwood. Starting 9:00 am to 4:00pm Support your club by volunteering one or two hours of your time. You would be at our club table to hand out brochures and answer questions. Let s make this a group effort. You ll have a good time guaranteed!!! Contact : Jackie Allsup at cedarserviceja@aol. com Publicity...Jackie Allsup cedarserviceja@aol.com * Water Garden Tour.. TBD Programs.open - no volunteers

7 The Beauty of Pondless Waterfalls Part 2 P age 7 Simple Enough The name basically explains it all. It s a waterf all and stream, without the pond. But why would you want a waterf all without a pond? The truth is that a Pondless Waterf all isn t for every one, but it can be a great alternativ e f or someone who isn t quite sure about getting a f ull-fledged pond. Some people are a little gun-shy when it comes to ponds because of mosquitoes. And although ponds that contain biological and mechanical filters are constantly being re-circulated, discouraging mosquitoes, the threat of West Nile is still very scary. Standing water can also be scary f or people with y oung children. We all know how fast children mov e, and the thought of hav ing a pond so close to their play areas discourages some f rom considering a water garden. Other people feel that taking care of fish would be a little too much of a responsibility, and that they won t be able to leav e their pond for long periods of time, while still others say they do not hav e enough room for a whole pond. Cost is also a big f actor when it comes to installing a pond. The price of a Pondless Waterfall will be less because there is not as much labor less rock used because of the absence of a pond. The Pondless Waterf all is f or all the people that have those concerns, as well as people who are in lov e with waterf alls. A Complete System If it s hard for you to imagine a waterf all and stream without a pond, it must be hard to f igure out how it works. Questions like, Where does the water come f rom? and Where does the water go? are common f or inquiring minds. Well, the truth is that it works much like a regular pond. A hole, deeper than a normal pond, is dug, then lined with rock and grav el, and f illed with water. The water is then circulated from beneath the rocks and gravel by a pump that sits on the bottom. A pipe runs from there up to a BIOFALLS f ilter and into an overf lowing waterfall, where it f alls back into the reservoir. Since the water level never pools above the level of the rock and gravel fill, it giv es the appearance of a Pondless Waterf all. But the greatest part of it all is that all the anxieties you have about ponds go right out the window the minute the waterf all is turned on! Picture This It s a beautif ul summer day and you are planning on hav ing f riends over to barbeque out on your patio. Somehow, setting up the sprinkler to mimic the sound of a natural stream doesn t do it f or y ou. What about that Pondless Waterfall that y ou ve heard so much about? Why not take the plunge? Pondless Waterfall owners are flipping over their newly -installed masterpieces. With three small children, you can never be too careful, but with the Pondless Waterfall, my saf ety concerns are significantly minimized, Colleen Heitzler, Pondless Waterf all owner, said. And the best part about it is that it fits into our lif estyle our kids lov e it, and it s a nice little piece of tranquility f or my husband and I after a hectic day. The Pondless Waterf all has made many water-lovers, who were previously unable to indulge in the sweet sounds of falling water, very happy. It s a great alternativ e f or those who are trying to get their f eet wet, or looking to f it a little bit of paradise into their own backyard. In other words, when all else fails go pondless! Club member Bob Rickard would like help laying out a pondless waterfall. He can provide a picture of the proposed area. If you have any knowledge about this, contact him at: 700 Plum PO Box 154 Tipton, IA How Many Plants Do I Need To Add to My Pond 4 x6 to 6.x 6 pond 1 Liliy 5 8 Bog Plants 3 Water Hyacinth or Lettuce 24 Submerged Plants like Hornwort or Anacharis 6 x11 to 11 x11 Pond 2 Lilies 9 13 Bog Plants 6 Water Hyacinth or Lettuce 44 Submerged Plants like Hornwort or Anacharis 11 x11 to 14 x16 Pond 3 Lilies Bog Plants 8 water hyacinth or lettuce 90 Submerged Plants like Hornwort or Anacharis 16 x16 to 16 x21 Pond 5 Lilies Bog Plants 12 Water Hyacinth or Lettuce 160 Submerged Plants like Hornwort or Anacharis 21 x 21 to Pond 7 Lilies Bog Plants 15 Water Hyacinth or Lettuce 200 Submerged Plants like Hornwort or Anacharis Reprinted with permission by bonniesplants.com Permission form Aquascapes Lifestyle Magazine

8 The Lotus, It s Really Easy P age 8 by Bonnie Hale. Koi USA Lotus are hardy from zones 5 to 10, and there are some varieties that are hardy to zone 4 so be sure to check the zone hardiness of the variety you are purchasing. Sun requirements are at least 6 hours a day. The height varies from 18 to 60, depending on the variety. Ideally they like 4 to 10 of water over the pot. I start out in the spring at a shallow depth of a couple of inches over the rim of the pan. This shallow depth will be warmer too. As new growth begins to sprout, the pan can be gradually lowered to the deeper depth, but no deeper than 10. Behavior The Lotus will be slow growing at first. The leaves will start to emerge once the tuber has rooted. This can take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the water temperature. I have found I get better blooming results by fertilizing them every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season. Simply take a stick and push a small hole into the soil near the outer rims of the Lotus pan and push 2 or 3 pond plant fertilizer tablets down in the hole. Pat the soil down to cover the tablet and replace the pan back in the pond. Nearly all parts of the Lotus are edible and are used in Oriental cooking. The hefty price of Lotus will surely discourage you from sampling your Lotus. This makes it ideal (safe) for people who have small children and pets that may endeavor to taste your pond plant. In the fall after the frost has nipped the leaves, carefully cut away all of the foliage and lower the pan to the very bottom of the pond for the winter. The following spring when you see new leaves coming forth, move the Lotus up in the water so that it is at the proper depth. Growing Them Pond Side Because my fish love Lotus, I grow them pond side. I dig out an area near the pond that will accommodate the pan. Then I simply lower the pan into this hole. As the foliage grows, the leaves camouflage the pan so it is not visible. Another reason for planting pond side is that to bloom freely Lotus must be fed regularly and that can cause green water. I fertilize mine every 3 weeks using Job s sticks for blooming plants. Fall Planting and Division Most will divide their Lotus in the very early spring before they see new growth coming up. If you plan to divide your plant in the late winter or very early spring., keep an eye on the plant. Once new growth begins, disturbing the roots can be fatal to the plant. Basically, dividing Lotus in the fall is very similar to spring time/late winter dividing. The only difference is that you do not add any fertilizer and the newly potted Lotus is placed at the bottom of the pond for over wintering, ensuring the tuber will not freeze. If placing the plant in a cool place 36 to 55 degrees to keep it dormant and from freezing until it is time to add it to the pond. Make sure you check the pan during this time and that you have at least a couple of inches of water over the gravel. How is my Koi dif- ferent from a goldfish? Simple, have you ever seen a goldfish with whiskers? A Koi s whiskers are called barbells and are used to root around in the gravel or mud for food. How long can Koi live? Well, there s really no limit, depending on the life your Koi leads. The oldest one recorded was named Hanako and lived to be 226 years old in the Mino Province of Japan. Do I need to add anything to my pond to keep Koi? As long as you keep your pond as natural as possible, with a biological and mechanical filter, along with plants and gravel, the Koi will be just fine. Contrary to popular belief, a UV sterilizer is not required to keep your fish healthy. After all, how many UV sterilizers do you see in nature?

9 Eastern Iowa Pond Society Membership Application 2007 To become a member of the Eastern Iowa Pond Society, complete this form and mail it along with your dues to : Eastern Iowa Pond Society rd St Dr SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa Dues are $10.00 per calendar year. Make checks payable to: Eastern Iowa Pond Society New Membership Renewal Name: Address: Phone Number: address: Newsletters will be mailed to all members. Dues will be $10.00 per family, payable November of previous year and delinquent April 1st of each year. These dues entitle a member to participation in all activities and receive a monthly newsletter.

10 Eastern Iowa Pond Society Inc rd St. Dr. S.E. Cedar Rapids Iowa Non profit organization Eastern Iowa Pond Society Inc. Visions Our Mission Statement We are committed to providing a social atmosphere for members dedicated to sharing and learning the pleasure of water gardening. We are a non-profit organization. Membership of this association shall be open to any individual without regard to race, creed, national origin or Sex, who shall render membership dues as specified in the governing documents. History The Eastern Iowa Pond Society was established by Sharon Weiss in 1996 to encourage and promote water gardening and ponds. Meetings Meetings are held at different members homes the second Thursday at 7:00PM and the fourth Saturday in April, May. June. July, August and September. During Feb., March, October and Nov. meetings are held once a month on a Saturday. No meetings are held in Dec & Jan. No meetings are held in December or January. Yearly Planning A plan-the-year meeting is held on a February afternoon at a central location to hammer out strategies on how the club will conduct business and to plan activities for the upcoming year. Activities A yearly Pond Tour event involves selected members opening their ponds to the public. Speakers, demonstrations, field trips, plant and fish swap, pot luck, and club projects are all activities that happen during the year. Dues Dues will be $10.00 per family, payable November of previous year and delinquent April 1st of each year. These dues entitle a member to participation in all activities and receive a monthly newsletter.