KANSAS POND SOCIETY NEWSLETTER January 2015

President: Mike Kandt 838-6681, [email protected] Vice-President: Wanita Wright, 733-6626, [email protected] Treasurer: Larry Determann 945-0017, [email protected] Secretary: Susan Kandt, 838-6681, [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Mike Kandt 838-6681, [email protected] Webmaster: Alden Consolver, [email protected] Website: www.kansaspondsociety.org

FROM THE PRESIDENT Saturday, By Mike Kandt January 10 6:00 PM - ? Our holiday party was a lot of fun. Great food, great friends and great gifts. Jeff and Jake Hoffman emceed the festivities, and there at were a lot of “stolen” gifts. Thanks to Deborah Gafvert for Botanica organizing and decorating this event and all those who helped her: (701 N. Amidon) Lyda Andrews. Marilyn Roberts, Susan Kandt, Connie Volkman, Joyce Determann, and Linda Reimer. Also thanks to Lyda and James Spearman Marilyn who cooked the turkeys and Wanita Wright who cooked the with Green Fin ham. They were delicious. Everyone did a super job of pitching in will speak on to clean up, and we were out of the building quickly. th The January meeting will begin our 20 year by my count. We will This will be our first meeting of return to our technical programs and this should be a good one. Due the new year. James will talk to room availability, we will meet on the second Saturday, January about Aquaponics – the union of 10, at 6 pm. James Spearman of Green Fin Gardens near hydroponic and fish Manhattan, KS will talk to us about Aquaponics. In aquaponics, keeping. Bring a side dish or are raised like but combined with fish keeping to dessert. Ham and turkey will be create a closed eco-system. Nutrient-rich water is circulated from provided. Drinks and service will fish tanks to beds where the water is cleaned and the plants are also be provided, but you are fertilized. The clean water is returned to the fish tank. As a result, welcome to bring your own. you get healthy fish and plants that you can eat. Come listen to James’ interesting program and learn how you can set up one of these systems. We will have turkey and ham left over from the UPCOMING EVENTS holiday party (yes, it’s been frozen), so bring side dishes and Nov 1-2: KS Orchid Society desserts. show & sale, Botanica Nov 28- Dec 31(except Dec 24 & Still working on next month’s program, but I hope to get the designer 25): Illuminations at and builder of the new koi pond for Botanica’s new Chinese . Botanica Dec 6: KPS Holiday Party There are many of you who have not renewed Jan 10: KPS Meeting at Botanica your membership. Keep in mind that we don’t send out invoices. You need to send Feb 7: KPS Meeting at Botanica your check to Larry Determann with any changes in your address, phone, e-mail, etc. WELCOME NEW (see the application at the end of this newsletter). MEMBERS Have a happy new year and we’ll see you in Terry Powell January. David & Angela Gaffney

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SWAP SHOP ADVERTISING RATES

If you have articles, plants or fish to sell or give away, Business Card Size Ad (about 2" x 3 ½"): $15 per let me know at 838-6681 or [email protected] 3-month period; $50 per year Quarter-Page Ad (about 3 ½" x 4 ½"): $30 per 3- PETS FOR SALE: Angelfish $2.00 each, Guinea month period; $100 per year Pigs $10.00 each, Parakeets $10.00 each. Call John Half-Page Ad (about 5" x 7 ½"): $60 per 3-month Byers - 838-5576, 838-4333 period; $200 per year Full-Page Ad (8 ½” x 11"): $400 per year

BOG PLANTS By Duane Van Dolah (Duane is still out. Another reprise.)

WATER HEMLOCK CICUTA MACULATA

While I was reading some of my plant books, I came across a plant that needs to be addressed. Some plant people I know sometimes happen onto an intriguing plant in the wild and take it home. A person should never take a plant from the wild. I’m just as guilty as anyone of doing this. The plant I want to talk about is the Water Hemlock. It can be found in Missouri, so it’s close by. It resembles the water parsnip, so misidentification can happen. This perennial native plant is 3-6 feet tall, with stout stems that are smooth and hairless. These stems can be green or purple with, at times, purplish lines or spots. The lower portion of the central stem is hollow and contains a very highly poisonous toxin, along with all parts of the plant. Foliage is formed of three leaflets that are lanced-like, sharply veined, and toothed. Each leaflet is 1/5 to ½ inches wide. The summer blooming flowers are white and are in a cluster that has 10-20 groups and each group has 12-15 flowers. Each group is about 6 inches across. The root system consists of several fleshy roots, not unlike those found on a dahlia. The plant spreads by reseeding itself. Water Hemlock grows in full or part shade and moist to 12 inches of water and can tolerate seasonal flooding. It is hardy in zones 4-11. Water Hemlock is reasonably attractive and eloquent, and the flowers provide nectar to many insects. It is fairly easy to distinguish Water Hemlock from other members of the Carrot family, which it is a member of. Look for its double compound leaves and rather large leaflets that are rarely lobed. Many other members of the Carrot family have simple compound leaves, or the leaflets are much smaller and more lobed.

Duane

TIP OF THE MONTH: THE WINTER POND By Mike Kandt

January is a tough time of year for pond keepers. There is not much to do since everything is dormant. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the pond over winter. There are a few things to watch.

1. If ice or snow covers the pond, be sure the aerator or pump is keeping a hole in the ice so that toxic gases can escape. If the hole does close up when it gets really cold, a few days shouldn’t be a problem. If it goes beyond that, place a pot of boiling water on the ice to melt through. Be sure the pot’s not one you care about and has a string so you can retrieve it.

2. If you are running your waterfall over the winter, watch the water level under the ice. Icing of the waterfall can cause water displacement, thereby emptying the pond. This can happen quickly, so when it is really cold, check frequently.

3. Check exposed plumbing for freezing. Install heat tape, particularly to valves, where you might have a problem.

4. Remove leaves from netting. When ice and snow occurs, these can help catch the snow and weigh down the net. Usually a leaf blower will work well, but sometimes a plastic leaf rake is needed to do the trick. If the handle is not long enough, try duct taping the rake to your skimmer net pole. If the leaves are gone in your area, you might consider removing the net. However, this does provide good protection from herons, kingfishers and other predators while your fish are virtually helpless.

5. In January, you might start to see stringy algae starting up in the pond. This is growing because of the available nitrogen in the water from the fish waste. Yes, even in the winter, fish are producing ammonia. Just twirl out as much of the algae as you can and wait for spring. Avoid algaecide in the winter, as you might kill the only thing keeping the ammonia levels in check.

Now that you know everything is tucked in, kick back in front of the fireplace with a hot beverage and have a long winter’s nap – just like your pond.

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CHRISTMAS KUDOS By Deborah Gafvert Holiday Party Lost & Found A big thank you to all the industrious little elves who devoted their creative talents to making our holiday party special. Lost: Marilyn Roberts and Lyda Andrews have been central to this Linda Reimer lost a little baby effort for more years than any of us remember. Marilyn frog, about one inch big; possibly dutifully brings the tree with white lights every year and it got into someone else's helps Lyda to decorate it so beautifully. Thanks to these belongings? ladies also for sharing from their private collections of "birdbaths" and winter critters, along with Susan Kandt, Lyda Andrews lost a large slotted Connie Volkman & her son Derek, Joyce Determann, and serving spoon. Linda Reimer. And of course thanks to Larry Determann, Mike Kandt, Clyde Flaming, and Harold Reimer for lending Found: their muscles to the set-up and tear-down. Thanks to Jeff & Deborah Gafvert ended up with a Jake for playing Santa and his elf. (I personally vote that white cotton dish towel and a these two are permanently elected to this job!) It is an honor large non-slotted serving spoon and a pleasure to work with such a great team! Merry that belong to someone. Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Deborah Gafvert

FISH TALES by Susan Kandt

WE’LL MISS YOU, BIG GUY

The Kansas Pond Society recently lost one of our long-time good guys. Some of you newer members may not have known him, and for that, I am truly sad. You missed out on somebody really special.

His name was Rick Daney. He and Carol have been members for…well, I can’t recall. It’s the wee hours of the morning as I write this; my editor/husband has gone to bed, and I don’t have the slightest idea how to look up that kind of information. All I can tell you is this: when I think of the people who have been in our club as long as I can remember, the Daney’s are on that list.

Although Rick and Carol haven’t been as active as they once were, due to his illness, they’ve been long-time, active, dependable members, and they were truly good people. Here’s an example.

When we had our November meeting, which was also our auction, Carol showed up early carrying an item to donate to the auction. I asked after Rick, and she said he wasn’t quite up to snuff due to his chemo treatments. But she said he was doing fine. They weren’t planning on attending, but they wanted to make sure we got their contribution. How nice of them to remember us, I remember thinking. If either my husband or I were going through the agony of chemo, I suspect the last thing on my mind would be getting in the car and taking something to the Kansas Pond Society’s auction.

Just three and a half weeks later, I read that Rick had passed away.

I was shocked to the bone when I saw his obituary. I had just seen him a month or two earlier at our meeting. I was thrilled to see Carol and him attending meetings again, because I knew Rick had been suffering from cancer for awhile. Of course, I only knew that because Carol had told me. I would never have known it from talking to and looking at Rick. Rick always looked hale and hearty. That’s why I was surprised when I learned he was ill. To talk to Rick, I got the impression it was not serious. Well, cancer is always serious, of course. But Rick made it sound like he had it under control. And Rick was the kind of man who, when he said he had something under control…well, you tended to believe it.

He and Carol had showed up in our yard just this past year when we were on tour. We talked for some time, and I was distressed to learn that his cancer was still with him. They toured our yard, gave us their sincere compliments, and went on to the next stop on the tour. I was, as usual, impressed with how good Rick looked for somebody toting around the weight of that dreadful disease. And I recall thinking how thrilled I was that they were still active in our club.

They were frequently some of the first people to agree to be on tour when we were begging for participants. It was always a blast to go through their yard and see what kinds of things Rick had built for the occasion. (You may remember their Alice in Wonderland display on tour a couple of years ago.) In days past, they showed up to help with the garden shows. They were regulars at meetings for years. I’ve always enjoyed the two of them, and I especially adored Rick’s sense of humor. He always had a big smile and something funny and clever to say whenever I saw him.

That’s why I was amazed a couple of years ago when, at one of our KPS meetings, Rick came up to me, pulled me aside, and asked me if I was the Susan Kandt who had written the letter to the editor that was in the newspaper that day. I said I was. Rick didn’t say another word, but his eyes teared up, he put his arm around me in a fierce hug, then silently walked away.

I was flabbergasted until I remembered the subject of my editorial. I was apologizing to Vietnam veterans for the way my generation treated them when they came home from the war. I didn’t personally show disrespect to any vet, but I know that many in my age group at the time did. I’ve always felt ashamed of that and thought it was high time SOMEBODY in my generation said, “Thank you for your service,” to those soldiers.

That was when I realized that Rick was one of those veterans. (In fact, I learned from his obituary that he was decorated with a bronze star for his valor). Seeing that tall, proud man with tears in his eyes made me realize it wasn’t just time my generation apologized. It was way PAST time.

I also discovered that Rick was a member of the Choctaw tribe. I always thought he had the bearing and the distinguished look of a Native American, so that didn’t surprise me. I also learned he enjoyed the outdoors and didn’t miss a season of pheasant hunting. (In fact, it was revealed at the memorial service that Rick had gone hunting in western Kansas just two weeks prior to his death. This was clearly not a man who was going to let some stupid disease keep him from enjoying the things that made life special to him.)

I always knew he was good with cars, and I discovered he had once owned his own automotive business. I wish I’d known that, because I’ve always been on the lookout for a good, honest mechanic, and nobody has to tell me that that’s exactly the kind of mechanic Rick Daney was.

It was news to me that he and Carol had been high school sweethearts and had been married for 45 years. Wow. Imagine sticking with a guy through high school AND a war. He was clearly what we old folks call “a real keeper.”

Carol, if you’re reading this, I can only add: I know there are many, many things about Rick that I still don’t know. All I can hope is that you will continue to join your Kansas Pond Society family at our monthly meetings. We long-timers miss you, and there are lots of newer members who will want to get to know you. As for me…well, I just want to hear more about that fantastic guy of yours!

Peace,

SUSAN

Did you know… Filters cease to function (convert ammonia to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates) below 50 degrees. …. wcw

DUES ARE DUE

Dues for the Kansas Pond Society were due January 1. We do not send out invoices, so just send a check for $20 to Larry Determann, 1508 N Mt. Carmel, Wichita, KS, 67203 with the form below. Your dues are important to cover our costs for this newsletter and other club expenses. Many members find that this cost is more than redeemed through the year. If we don’t receive your renewal before the March meeting, we must take your name off our mailing list. So send in your dues as soon as you can.

KANSAS POND SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Renewal for one year (January thru December) $20.00

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Detach or print out and send with your renewal check to Larry Determann, 1508 N. Mt. Carmel, Wichita, KS 67203

Kansas Pond Society 5615 N. Sullivan Wichita, KS 67204