Squamish Gardeners’ Club

General Meeting

May 6th, 2007

 

 

 

In the absence of Carol Robson, Carla Halvorson Burke chaired a brief business meeting.

 

Garden Tour: The open hours of the gardens is being extended, and will be from 9 am to 4 pm.  This will give volunteers more opportunity to visit the gardens themselves.  The cost of tickets will be $15.  Volunteers will pay half price.  A sign-up sheet was provided.

 

There was also a sign-up sheet for volunteers for the Van Dusen Garden Show.

 

The garden shovel from the BC Gardens meeting, designed and marketed by a woman in Vernon, was a raffle prize at this meeting (won by Anna Kirman).  An sign-up list for ordering shovels was available.

 

A reminder that we still need to weed at the library.

 

Judith Fothergill said that Garden Club members had been offered an opportunity to take plants from the stunning garden at 39773 Government Road on Saturday, May 12th, from 9-1.  The house was to be sold, and Maria Freiberger had made the generous offer.

 

There will be a field trip to Petals and Butterflies, in Langley, Thursday, May 24th.  Another garden will likely be combined in the tour:  sign-up sheet available.

 

Programme:  The meeting was then turned over to Nairn Stewart, who introduced the speaker, Steve Kovacs, of Water Scene Design in Ladner.  He has a long history of designing and installing water features.  He runs an 8-hour course for teachers and students on water features.

 

He provided several hand outs, and presented a slide show.

 

He said that people want to come home and hear the sound of clear water, particularly if this is a low-maintenance situation.  Water features:

§         aesthetically enhance the landscape;

§         provide tranquillity and a relaxation zone;

§         are an educational tool for children, and

§         bring nature to your property.

 

In his experience there are:

Fish people (aquarists)

Plant people (gardeners)

Decorative people, and

Complete water gardeners (all of the above).

 

There are various water features available, ranging from a container water garden, to a pre-formed shallow pond, to a do-it-yourself liner pond, which is the most popular. The liner is hidden by rocks.  A professionally installed liner pond is the most expensive choice.  A pond-less waterfall is also an option.

 

He mentioned that mosquito larvae do not live in moving water.

 

There are five components to a water feature:

§         Circulation (pump and tubing

§         Filtration (mechanical and biological)

§         Rocks and gravel

§         Fish

§         Plants.

 

Biological filters make use of beneficial bacteria to convert and remove nitrogen components, mainly ammonia and nitrate.  Mechanical filters physically remove debris and waste matter.

 

The best depth for a pond is 2 feet.  Plants aid in algae control through shade and competition.  It’s best to cover 30-40% of the pond’s surface with plants.

 

The best predator control (herons, racoons) is a mechanical scarecrow with a motion sensor that shoots water.  It’s important when building ponds to create small caves and hiding places for fish.

 

Steve invited all the Garden Club members to visit his operation in Ladner.