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May 15, 2007

Vought Water Gardens News

We are busy preparing for our Fourth Annual Birmingham Area Parade of Ponds. Each year these pond tours go on across the country and give pond owners the opportunity to invite fellow enthusiasts into their own private paradises. This means you get to see some of the most spectacular outdoor living spaces in Alabama! Did we mention that all our proceeds go to local charities? Contact Lee if you are interested in being a part of our tour or for more information about the event.

This Month in Your Pond

These are some of the things that are happening in your pond this month:

  • Your fish have come out and started following you around, so you started feeding them - maybe even by hand! Be mindful though to not feed your fish too much; just a handful of snacks a day to keep them happy to see you. Remember that the job your fish are tasked with is to eat the algae off your rocks and if you give them too many snacks they won’t want to eat the algae. Think of them as you do kids - if you gave them sweets and fast food every day they wouldn’t eat their vegetables, right? Same thing with your fish. So be sparing with those treats!
  • Iris's are splashing yellow and blue all around the pond
  • Algae have taken over your rocks, but don't panic! As the plants soak up more and more nutrition, the algae will subside. Keep an eye on your pond, add your beneficial bacteria, and let your fish do their job.
  • If there are tadpoles they have hatched and are everywhere, but eventually they will either become food or vacate their temporary home.
  • The water lilies are starting to bloom in yellow, pinks and white. If you work days and enjoy your pond at night ask your local expert about obtaining some night blooming lilies so you can enjoy the blooms when you are home the most.

I know this is what's happening because it's exactly what's going on in our ponds right now! So get out and enjoy your pond or stop by and visit ours. Make time for "pondering" and enjoying the beauty that May brings to your outdoor paradise.

Kids Corner!

Ponds are great educational tools! While Vought Water Gardens is an active supporter of the Ponds for Kids program , it may not be at your school yet. If you have a water feature in your yard, now is a great time to talk about wildlife and the ecosystem with kids! Try the following:

  • Identify wildlife! Take the time to talk about the inhabitants of your backyard ecosystem and why they are important.
  • Talk about plants and their role in the ecosystem.
  • Discuss the importance of clean water. This is a resource we are tragically growing short of in our world and water features and their components might soon be a small step in solving a global issue!

© 2007 Vought Water Gardens, P.O. Box 184, Decatur, AL 35602