Water Garden Club of South Texas

February 21, 2009: Last year as we made a speedy exit from 2008, venturing into 2009, your board members did some deep soul searching and what we realized is that we needed to provide our members with an all inclusive learning experience. After all, our mission is teaching as well as learning but to what accord if we don’t pass along the knowledge. Some of the best training a newbie can receive is from the old tried & true methods, our first tries, our failures, and OH yes, the sweet smell of successes. So we thought, we need a learning seminar extravaganza, one that might bring out the best in our experienced senior members and join hand in hand with our new less experienced pond keepers. Feb 21st from 1-4PM at the Humane Society @ 4804 Fredericksburg Rd. will be a day set in memory for all of our members. We will be in the education building. This special time has been set aside to address water garden topics that many of our members have asked for in their applications. With great pride and careful planning, we’re having an afternoon of intense learning so bring your notebooks and your questions. Do you want to know how to build a bridge? Don’t laugh; bridges are built over ponds and they add excellent beauty to every landscape. Did you know a bridge can be built in a single weekend? Hey, I’m talking to the women also, women can do this too. Wanda knows more about building things for your home landscape then I’ll ever learn in my lifetime. Randy & Wanda Brunette want to show you how simple it can be from two folks that always work in their landscape. Did you know that filters can be as simple as a 55 gallon drums to a horse trough to a fabulous bog filtration system that is pretty much self sufficient. Eugene Fairchild and James Koenig will teach you how it’s done. They both a excellent teachers. Do you know what to do to bring your fish out of hibernation? No, you just can’t start feeding them; the science of fish keeping is a little more intense than that to be successful. If you want healthy fish, fish that come into spring without the stress, are Koi for you? is your pond large enough? If you want to know about cleaning your pond, what to do when, if the health of your pond family is important to you, come sit and talk to Sandy. Algae control, WOW, that’s a scary word, maybe you’d like to control it naturally like nature intended, come see us. We’re here to teach you everything we’ve learnt that keeps our water gardens balanced, happy & healthy.

March 21, 2009 – To Pond Tour or not to Pond Tour
Have you silently wished or thought about entering your pond on a pond tour but were afraid to because you didn’t know what to expect. This is commonly called WGJ” Water Garden jitters. Well, we think you have the right to know what it’s all about so we are spending this meeting doing just that. You need to know that it’s a wonderful experience, that you’ll be tired at the end of the day and that our concern is with our pond families. It is our job to make sure that you are well informed before deciding to enter your pond on our tour. This is the meeting to make if you’d like to enter your pond. If we have time after discussing the pond tour, let’s address your pond problems, let’s talk about your concerns and whether its about water quality to how many fish can a pond hold safely. Come share this informational meeting with us from 1-4PM @4804 Fredericksburg Rd in the Education Center.

March 22, 2009
On March 22, Ruth Ann and Vance Schultz in Poteet have invited us to attend their fish sale & seminar. You have an opportunity to pick & choose your very own Longfin Butterfly Koi and I might add that the prices are exceptionally low. We need to be there at 1’ o’clock in the afternoon and bring your own chairs, your containers or coolers to carry the fish in. We’ll be taught the art of how show quality Koi are chosen, how the fish spawn, how Koi are picked for their bright color combinations and we’ll actually see how fish seining is done. If you’d like to buy Strawberries in the flats, (they range in price for about $20.00) you can let me know how many you want and I can order those in advance for you. The seminar and sale will start promptly at 1’o’clock. This is an event that I need to know ahead of time, if you plan to attend. There is a winery right up the street that we’ll be able to shop once we’re done with the seminar event. Call Sandy by March 7th if you are interested in going at 535-2072. I will forward you the directions once I know you’re going. Hope to see you there.

2008

April 19, 2008 - will be our Semi-Annual Plant Swap. It will be held at the home of Marcie Larsen, 5318 Las Campanas from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Marcie is such a sweetheart and such a great hostess. Be sure to bring a covered dish to go with the delicious bar-be-cue that will be prepared and your lawn chairs. Don’t forget that some of us looooove chocolate cake, or just anything chocolate. Yum, yum. If you are able to come, be sure to call Cookie at (210) 674-6851.

May 10, 2008 - will be the Membership Only Free Pond Tour. We need someone to chair and organize this tour. We will also need volunteers. Please give this some consideration this wonderful opportunity. We will be looking for five (5) people, living in a similar area or neighborhood, to volunteer to showcase their ponds for our tour. Doesn’t this sound great? This is the first time we have done this and are hoping it will be successful and well attended. If you have any questions, please call Marcie Larsen at (210) 496-6628.

June 2008 - We are in the process of planning a trip to Papa Jim’s Tropical Fish & Botanical store. All plans have not been sewn up as yet, so stay tuned for all the details as they develop.

February 16, 2008 - Malcolm Beck to speak at the next Water Garden Club Monthly General Membership meeting to be held at the Humane Society on February 16 from 1-4PM.

Malcolm Beck seems to have done it all. He's a celebrated author, inventor, multi-business owner and has been all over the country giving lectures and demonstrations. He will be talking about his latest passion, something he calls "paramagnatism". This phenomena has to do with certain rock properties that can truly benefit your garden. It was very interesting talking with him and I don't want to steal his thunder, so you will need to show up on Saturday, the 16th, to see for yourself. It will be worth your while!! He also can talk about bats, composting, Texas bugs and anything else you may want to discuss.

His website is "www.malcolmbeck.com" and it contains lots of neat information. The easy-to-use website contains topics on everything from water conservation to pollution. His many books are also listed and discussed.

2007

April 14th 2007 - We’ll be doing a plant/fish swap combination for members only unless you’d like to join our organization. This will be a luncheon so bring a dish and call Wanda at 269-5285 with what you intend to bring. Bring your lawn chairs, your sunscreen, your garbage bags to carry your plants home and your mosquito spray. Please notify Sandy (520-3732) if you are bringing fish so that she can be prepared. If you’re interested in joining us call Sandy for address and directions.

Julie & Dale Jordan will not be having fish for this event and they are not ready to give away their fish at this time. Their pond is on the June 9th Pond tour so to prevent their pond having to go through a readjustment balancing period and be ready for the tour, they will give away fish after the tour. That date will be posted for your information at a later date. Sorry but I truly understand how they feel. It takes 6-8 weeks for ponds to come back to normal after taking water out and adding fresh water. Be patient and they thank you for understanding.

May 26th 2007 – Festival of Flowers 9-5 PM. Place - Alzafar Shrine Temple on 1604 & Stone Oak Pkwy. Come join your club in the annual celebration of flowers. Come listen to the garden experts, participate in the huge plant exchange (bring a plant & exchange it for another one), buy honey, be a part of our fund raising extravaganza. You’ll get in free and parking is free. Get a chance to tour the booths of millions of different flowers. It’s an event for the avid gardener. Come out and have a fun filled day talking to folks about your pond and helping us to raise money for your organization. Work a couple of hours and spend the rest of the time exploring the goodies. Call Marcie at 653-3759 to Volunteer

June 9th 2007 - Our Pond Tour from 9-5. We’re having our 7th annual pond tour and we need your help. It happens only once a year where someone in our pond family needs you to help their water garden shine. We have decided to have fewer ponds on the tour this year giving folks the opportunity to see more ponds and spend some much needed valuable time with our pond families finding out how they built their ponds and how they operate and how much fun it is to have a pond. So if you can help for a few hours, call Cristina @ 349-2869. It only takes a short time to lend a hand. (click here for more details)

July 14th 2007 - The Austin Pond Society will be having their pond tour and we’re invited. We’ll be going up there by bus so bring a sack lunch and we’ll have snacks & drinks. The price is $35.00 for members and $40.00 for non-members and will include your drinks, your snacks, your pond tour tickets and the bus fare. We’ll get to see some of the best ponds that Austin has to offer. I always get very excited because they have a 40,000 gallon pond that I hope is on the tour this year. Call Hank Macina and reserve your seats at 494-5497 or mail him your money at 14311 Oak Shadows Dr S.A. TX. 78232. Bring a friend or family member on this exclusive viewing of the best of the best ponds in Austin.

July 27, 28, 29th 2007 - The Texas Association of Pond Societies is having their convention here in San Antonio @ Water Garden Gems. There will be a special dinner at Julie Jordan’s home where our members can get together with their members and listen to what the TAPS organization is all about. There’ll be the viewing of two ponds on the 27th and loads of event on the 28th & 29th at WGG so plan to attend and put it on your calendar. I’ll fill in the details as the date gets closer. See you all there. Just remember if you’d like to go to the dinner on the 27th, I need a head count no later than March 31st. So email or call me no later than March 31st so that you get on the list for the 27th.

Correction: - In order to participate in this dinner, you must pay for the whole three day convention which may have a ticket price of $50.00-$60.00 dollars per person. The details have yet to be worked out. I will contact you when the plans are finalized. At present, I will not send you anything else on this event until all of the details are worked out. I appreciate your patience & understanding.

September 29, 2007 - Yes we went all the way to Sept 29th for our plant swap & Fish swap. This will be a festive occasion to get fresh new plants & new fishy friends. The event will be held at Terry & Fran Dunkum’s home. From 1-4 PM. The address will be in your newsletter. Bring your lawn chairs, your containers for your free fish and your plastic bags for your water plants. Call Sandy at 520-3732 if you plan on bringing fish so that we can have the appropriate containers available. Call Cookie at 674-6851 to tell her what you want to bring as a side dish. The club will buy the meat, the drinks and the utensils.

PONDS , PAWS & PARTY ANIMALS on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2007 FROM 2 TO 5 PM IN THE CENTER COURTYARD OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. Address: 4804 Fredericksburg Rd.

View the beautiful ponds and waterfalls at the Humane Society that were designed and built by the Water Garden Club. Tour the award-winning campus that houses lots of wonderful cats and dogs awaiting adoption.

Come, feast on foods provided by the Water Garden Club as you learn all the benefits of membership. We are there for you if you want help designing a pond or if you have questions about how to make your water feature better.

Enjoy live entertainment by THE TIM AND BOB SHOW. Four part harmony combined with music you want to sing along with.

Admission is free. Bring friends and dress for a casual Sunday afternoon. Questions? call Marcie at 210-653-3759. We need you to talk to folks about ponds so come help us. Bring your friends.

October 20, 2007 - Would you like to learn about Bog Gardens, would you enjoy a seminar from a really neat talented bog garden professional like James Koenig, well if your filtration is not what it was all cracked up to be then this seminar is for you. He also has some wonderful plants to give away so come relax and have some fun. Vance will be there with the most beautiful longfin Koi you will find anywhere at great low prices. His fish are healthy and very awesome looking. Come see us, from 1-4 PM. The address will be in your club newsletter.

November 10, 2007 - Winterize your water garden. Do you know what to do to protect your fish and plants? Lets talk about temperature swings and how it affects what lives in your pond. What plants are cold hardy and what plants will need to be replaced or protected? Come ask questions on November 10th from 1-4 PM at The Humane Society of Bexar County SPCA. 4804 Fredericksburg Rd. Open to the public.

Monthly Club Events:

Water Garden Club of South Texas
2010 Schedule of Events

Past Events

2009

2008