Geneva Area Pond Club's free meeting on April 20

For this meeting we're going back to Beth and Sacha's home and garden in the Chêne-Bougeries suburb of Geneva. Very successful meetings were held there on October 15, 2006 and on November 4, 2007. This time we'll be there in spring instead, to see many more flowers blooming in their long pond and extensive garden. The photo above shows a small portion of the koi-filled pond.

One topic of discussion at this meeting will be what we can do to prevent herons from flying off with our pond fish. The main topic will be what we should do to protect our fish during a prolonged heat wave. Recent history has shown that global warming is creating heat waves much more frequently today, so we should all be prepared if any occur this summer.

On very sunny days, shading a pond can lower the water temperature substantially. This occurs naturally if tall shrubs or trees are growing just south of the pond, although any leaves falling into the water should be scooped out before they rot and create noxious methane gas. It's wise to plant many water lilies and similar plants in the pond, so that their floating leaves effectively shade and cool the water below. On hot days, that's where you'll find most of your fish cooling off.

Warm water holds much less oxygen than cool water, and our fish could suffocate if they don't get relief on hot days. If your pond water lies still, the addition of lively spashing fountains, cascades or waterfalls would help to oxygenate the water. If a heat wave comes before you have a chance to add such a feature, repeatedly spraying fresh water from your garden hose pipe across the pond's surface can provide some relief. At minimum, a pump that simply recirculates the water would bring oxygen-poor water up from the bottom of the pond to the surface, where the water can release its carbon dioxide and absorb new oxygen from the atmosphere.

Additional advice on this topic will be discussed at the meeting, as well as many other subjects for ponders to ponder. Because these meetings are social as well as educational, feel free to bring up topics unrelated to ponding as well while everyone's enjoying Beth's snacks and drinks.

Clear road maps and written travel directions to Beth and Sacha's home, and to all our other meeting places, are in our web site's 'Files' section at http://ponds.meetup.c.... They can be downloaded only by pond club members, but non-members can instantly become members by clicking on the red link marked 'Sign up.' The maps and directions can be printed for your drive to the meetings.

If you can't attend this meeting, you'll find future meetings listed in the 'Calendar' section at http://ponds.meetup.c.... Click on each event's title to read its location and full details, then submit your RSVP by clicking Yes, Maybe, or No to indicate whether you can attend or not. Meeting hosts have to know whom to expect and whom not to expect, so please be sure to RSVP.

If you can't attend any of those meetings, you can have a meeting come to you instead. We meet in a different club member's home and garden every time, and we'd be happy to meet in yours. In that way we can see the features you've included in your pond, its fish and its plants, and get ideas to improve our own ponds. Meetings are held on the first and third Sundays of every month. To reserve an ideal date for your meeting, write to club leaders Suzanne and Peter at PeterSuzanne2@hotmail.com, or call them in Nyon at 0041 22 362 03 60.

For good examples of pond designing, log on to the web site's 'Photos' section at http://ponds.meetup.c... to see albums of club members' ponds. If you have digital photos of your own pond, they can be added to that section. If you submit at least ten and provide a caption for each, you'll be assigned your own pond photo album. Send all you have by e-mail to Peter at PeterSuzanne2@hotmail.com for uploading into the club's 'Photos' section.

For written advice on pond design, construction and maintenance, go instead to the site's 'Messages' section at http://ponds.meetup.c.... There you'll find many of Peter's tutorial articles, and occasional offers from club members about fish or other items for sale or free. Peter's articles that were published with photos will be found in the 'Files' section, along with the maps and directions to our meeting locations.

The site's 'Polls' section at http://ponds.meetup.c... shows the three questions about club management that are currently being voted on. Everyone can click on each question to see its options, then click to see what the results are so far. Only club members can then submit or change their vote, and instantly see the change in results. This club is run democratically according to how the members vote, so help determine its management by submitting your opinions in our Polls.