Deb Spencer To Speak On “The End of Season Blues”

Deb Spencer, our very own water garden and pond guru from Water’s Edge in Lawrence, will talk to us about “The End of The Season Blues” at the

September 20^th meeting at the Discovery Center. Oddly enough, her last talk was on opening your pond and now it’s already time to discuss closing that same pond. While opening your pond is a joyous occasion, closing your pond  is more of a perennial chore that tend s to bring on the blues. No more sounds of water to brighten your days, the agony of putting lilies, lotus, and other aquatics to sleep for the winter, and missing the joy of watching your fish scurry to the top of the pond when you feed them. Yep! That is enough to bring on a case of the blues!!

Deb, has some new and exciting products to help make the closing and the fall and winter months easier to bear.  As an example, she has the new

de-icer to demonstrate, along with a few other new products that have become available. Her outline for closing a pond and winterizing plants, will be available in  hand-out form so you can refer to the words of an expert while going about this sad but necessary chore. 

Deb encourages you to bring your questions about problems you are having or anticipate having. She has encountered most pond and water plant related problems over the years and has solved them in varied and sundry ways. Her knowledge of the lotus, for instance, was learned from trial and error! By having a ‘show and tell’ type talk, she gives valuable hands on information.

The crowning conclusion to Deb’s outstanding talks, is the plants and products she brings to give away! Lucky recipients will be drawn like the door prizes…your ticket stub number is the key! Be sure to mark your calendar for September 20^th, and don’t miss this opportunity to learn, first hand, how to beat the ‘End of Season Blues’.

Gazebos To Enhance Your Water Garden

 Speaking to the WGS members on Tuesday, September 20, 2005, is the Gazebo’s Galore owner, Jeff Copeland.

 About six years ago, Jeff said he wanted a 12 foot by 18 foot screened in porch added to the back of his home. The price of $11,000 was a bit steep so he put off making a decision until after his family vacation to Pennsylvania. As luck would have it, while on the  trip, Jeff  met an Amish father and son who built beautiful gazebos…installed on site within one day… at about half the cost of the screened porch! He was so impressed he bought a truck load of the gazebos and returned to Kansas City. Between neighbors and other friends, the gazebos disappeared and Jeff had discovered a new occupation!

 Over the years, Jeff has built his smallest gazebo at eight feet by eight feet and his largest, a 16foot  by 24 foot oblong affair. He says the small size would be excellent for water gardens and he hopes to give enough explanation for building that some of the WGS members will try their hand at  mastering the chore. He will also be on hand to answer questions you may have about gazebos.

 Mark your calendar…that’s for Tuesday, September 20^th at the Discovery Center!