Welcome To The Heart of Texas Water Garden & Pond Society 2018 Annual Parade of Ponds June 2nd and 3rd Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ● Saturday Night 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM ● Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM ● Please check individual ponds for SPECIAL viewing times 2 Tips for Pleasurable What is the Heart of Take a Break Lunch time is a great time to Texas Water Garden Pond Touring take a break, regroup, and make adjustments to your plan. A break from intensive pond touring Plan Your Route Before you start your tour, will increase your energy level and mental get familiar with the ponds on the tour and then The HOTWGPS is a group of people alertness. make a list of those you would like to see. who share a common interest in the Bring a Map in Addition to those pro- Drink plenty of water It is hot this time care and feeding of fish, water plants, of the year; therefore, it is very important to and the tranquility and the beauty of the vided Although directions to each pond are drink plenty of water. Because you will be out- water garden. contained inside, you may need a more detailed side all day, be sure to stay hydrated. area map. A GPS unit can be quite helpful. We are a not-for-profit organization Relax and Enjoy You may not be able to with the following objectives: Wear Sun Protection It is very easy to get a visit every pond on this tour. Don’t feel you ● To promote, create and enlarge sunburn viewing our ponds so take appropriate have to be in a rush to visit them all. Spend the hobby of Water Gardening, to protective measures. quality time at each pond. disseminate information about Water Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes Gardening and to engage in educational This event is casual and the weather is hot. Wear and social activities related to Water shoes that are safe and comfortable. You will be 1507 Wooded Acres Drive Gardening (Ponding/Pondering). walking on gravel, wood, flagstone, grass, and Waco, TX 76710 other uneven surfaces. ● To encourage a greater appreciation 254-741-9630 and interest in water gardens. Bring and Use a Camera Pictures are a Store Hours M-F 10-6, ● To stimulate the study and culture of great way to keep a record of the things you like Sat 9-5 aquatic plants, fish, water gardens and and dislike about the water gardens, ponds and ponds. surrounding landscaping. We Bring Nature and People Together ● To disseminate information and help Bring a Friend or Two A friend will not on- to the members. ly keep you company but, can make driving easi- ● To enjoy discussions about our er for you by helping with reading the map. ponds, lives and have a good time enjoying each other’s company. The HOTWGPS meets the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM. See our Website HOTWGPS.COM for de- tails. 2 3 A BIG THANK YOU to the following businesses for donating money, gift cards or plants, and helping us by selling tickets for the Heart of Texas Water Gardens and Pond Society’s 2018 PARADE OF PONDS GOLD SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS Wild Birds Unlimited ** North Waco Tropical Fish * Keith ACE Hardware 254-741-9630 254-753-7900 254-666-2520 1507 Wooded Acres, Waco, TX 1521 N. 15th St., Waco, TX 1424 Hewitt Dr., Waco, TX The Backyard and Patio Barrera’s Nursery and Keith ACE Hardware Store ** Landscape Co. * 254-932-5150 254-776-0950 254-666-9806 303 4th St., Valley Mills, TX 8100 Woodway Dr., Waco, TX 201 Sun Valley Rd., Hewitt, TX Keith ACE Hardware Keith ACE Hardware ** Bonnie’s Greenhouse 254-857-8010 254-836-5263 254-799-7909 201 N. I-35 Frontage Rd., Lorena, TX 9701 Salem Way, Waco, TX 5198 Orchard Lane, Waco, TX Keith ACE Hardware Hill Country Water Gardens Landscape Supply & Nursery ** 254-840-2834 254-753-7900 512-260-5050 408 W. McGregor Dr., 1900 W. Loop 340, Waco, Tx 1407 N. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park, TX McGregor, TX Greenlife Nursery ** Robinson Greenhouse 254-776-2400 254-662-0311 1312 N. New Road, Waco, TX 628 N. Robinson Dr., Robinson, TX Classic Canyon Ranch ** ** Donated $100 * Donated $50 3 4 1 2 Susan’s Pond Bevil’s Pond 107 Whistling Wind Trl, McGregor 251 Cross Creek Rd., McGregor Saturday 9 to 5, 8:30-10:30PM Sunday Only - 12:00- 5:00pm Sunday 12 to 5PM This pond has a beautiful waterfall and was built in Originally built in 2001 with the help of friends and 2002 by Keith Talbot. It is the home of many gold- neighbors this pond is an irregular oval, approximate- ly 8’ x 10’ and 3’ deep. A tractor was used to dig the fish and frogs. Water lilies and lotus decorate the hole and carpet pads the liner. An antique claw foot pond which is surrounded by jasmine. The yard is bathtub provides a bio-veggie filter system. In 2015 beautifully decorated with magnolia and oak trees the pond experienced a “Fixer Upper”, 7,ooo pounds and surrounded with spring colors. of rocks now edge the pond and create the waterfall. A filtration system of barrels, rocks and sand was add- Directions: Take Hwy 84 west towards McGregor. ed to improve water quality. A Evolution ES 4500 Turn left onto Sunwest Blvd., turn right onto Stage- pump circulates the 2900 gallons of water twice an line Dr. ,turn left onto Whistling Wind Trail it’s the hour. The pond is home to goldfish, Koi and frogs. fourth house on the right. Directions: Take Hwy 84 west towards McGregor. Turn Left onto Oak Creek Circle and then left onto Cross Creek Rd. 4 5 3 4 5 TJ’s Pond Lisa’s Pond Kathy’s Ponds 906 West 10th St. McGregor 7959 Ivy Rd., Moody 1161 La Motte Dr., Troy Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 12-5 Saturday 9 to 5, 8:30-10:30PM Saturday 9 to 5, 8:30-10:30PM Sunday 12 to 5PM Sunday 12 to 5PM In 2015 , I saw a backyard pond and loved it, so I got This pond is worth the drive to Troy!!! Please note: a book on backyard ponds. I gathered rock from eve- Take a drive to the country to see this whimsical It’s only open for viewing on Saturday and Saturday rywhere I went to start my dream pond. After four backyard on six acres with two ponds and a frog bog. night. It’s a 6,000 gallon pond with skimmer, veggie days (300 gallons) of digging, which I did all by my- These ponds were self built by the owner and are 175 filter and rock waterfall. The veggie filter is full of self, I was ready to put it together. I laid the plastic and 250 gallons, containing large gold fish, shub- water celery, violet stem taro, elephant ears and yerba liner down and put the rocks around the edge of the unkins, fantails and koi. The frog bog houses cricket, manza. The pond is stocked with koi and red tail min- pond. I then picked out fountains, plants and (joy, bull and leopard frogs, a turtle or two and numerous nows. The entire backyard is landscaped, including a joy) fish. I make changes every year on one thing or plants. The yard is home to bluebirds, jays, inca greenhouse, flowerbeds, herb garden, vegetable gar- another with fountains or plants. doves, dragonflies, butterflies and hummingbirds. den, fairy gardens, succulents, palm trees, banana Landscaping is designed with nature in mind and has trees and a gorgeous swimming pool. During the There is nothing more relaxing than to sit in the shade been certified by the National Wildlife Federation for night tour the yard is lit with white and colored lights, listening to the waterfall and watching the fish swim- providing food, shelter and a place to raise young. so relaxing you’ll never want to leave! ming. At night the leopard frogs and toads come out and start their singing. The birds that the pond attracts Directions: From McGregor take Hwy 317 to Directions: From Moody take FM107 to Eddy and are such a joy, also. It has become a beautiful, tran- Moody. From the stop light drive 4.2 miles to Ivy then take I-35 South., staying on the access road for quil place to relax and enjoy. Road and turn left. The house is one half mile on the 4.5 miles and then turn right onto Big Elm Rd. Take right. the next right onto Old 81 and then the first left back Directions: Take Hwy 84 West to McGregor, turn onto Big Elm. Take the next left onto Old Troy and left onto Hwy 317, turn right onto W. 9th St, turn left then the next right onto LaMotte Dr. Watch for the onto S. Madison St. and Right on W. 10th St., turn left yellow pond tour signs. onto S. Van Buren and then right back onto W. 10th. 5 6 6 7 8 Ron and Rose’s Ponds Lloyd and Valerie’s Pond Harv and Georgia’s Ponds 408 Cindy Lane, Lorena 906 Warren Rd., Lorena 700 Fox Ridge Rd., Lorena Saturday 9 to 5, 8:30-10:30PM Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 12-5 Saturday 9 to 5, 8:30-10:30PM Sunday 12 to 5PM Sunday 12 to 5PM The Haft’s first pond was about 14 years ago, a small Drive out to Lorena and enjoy our 1500 gallon pond This backyard oasis has two 6,000 gallon ponds, two 600-700 gallon affair.