Geneva Area Pond Club's free meeting on January 6

Meet Suzanne and Peter, the club's leaders, at this free meeting in their home in Nyon, about 15 minutes northeast of Geneva. The main topic of discussion at this first meeting of the new year will be what developed in club members' ponds in 2007, and what changes we intend to make in 2008. Many other subjects will be discussed, as usual. Pond experts will answer everyone's questions, and we'll also talk about topics having no relationship whatsoever with water gardening. That's because our meetings are social events, not just instructional seminars.

One of the subjects sure to come up is the winter care of ponds. With global warming now creating extremes of weather conditions, our ponds could freeze over for extended periods. This is especially true for ponds in higher altitudes. When ice completely covers a pond, the surface of the water can no longer release its accumulation of carbon dioxide, nor absorb oxygen from the atmosphere. This could cause our pond fish to die of suffocation.

When this happens, it's important to create an opening in the ice so that the gases can be exchanged. The worst way to do so would be to hammer a hole in the ice, because the pressure could cause the fishes' swim bladders to rupture. The best way to create an opening is to have a thermostat-controlled pond de-icer floating in the pond. As the water's temperature approaches freezing, the de-icer's heater warms the water around it, melting a round hole in the ice. Those without the device can simply boil a large pot of water and rest it on the surface of the ice until a hole is melted. It's wise to tie a rope around the pot's handle to simplify removal if the pot sinks below the surface.

All our free events are described on the club's informative web site at http://ponds.meetup.c.... Click on this meeting's page at http://ponds.meetup.c... to see the location and full details of this event. There you can click Yes, Maybe, or No to indicate if you can attend. If you're not free to come on January 6, click on http://ponds.meetup.c... to see future free meetings you can attend. Visitors are always welcome, so invite interested friends and neighbors.

If none of our meeting dates are convenient for you, Suzanne and Peter can schedule a meeting you can host in your own home on your preferred date. The club meets on the first and third Sunday of every month in the homes and gardens of club members around Geneva, Vaud, and nearby France. Hosting a meeting in winter or early spring is simple, because very few people attend in cool weather. To reserve an ideal date for a meeting in your own home or garden, write to the club's leaders at PeterSuzanne2@hotmail.com.