Volume 20, Issue 2 Spring 2015

In This Issue Officers and Directors ..........……………………………..2 Volunteer Coordinators and Committees…………..2 AGM ………………………………………………………………….3 Gardenscape.........................................................5 Did you know…………………..…..……….…………........…8 International Water Gardening Society..…......…...9 Q&A…………….…………………..…..……….…………..........9 Bulletin Board …………………………………………….……10 Membership Form ………….………………………….……12

Calendar of Events Swap & Shop: May 31, 2015 Pond Tours: Sunday, August 16, 2015 Seminars, lectures, workshops: Field trip is currently in planning stages Volunteer appreciation day: TBA

From the Editor’s Desk Welcome to the spring issue of The Wet Thumb. Hope everyone has been able to get out to their gardens and ponds. What great weather we have had!! This issue focuses on the Annual General Meeting held on March 8 and Gardenscape held on March 27 to 29, both of which are important events for PWGS. There are still a couple of positions open for officers and lots of room for more volunteers in all the committees. So if you are interested in participating, lots or little, just contact one of the directors. The Bulletin Board is a place where you can post any items, notices, events, anything. So you can post messages for plant swaps, sales, or giveaways. The website is now available for messages under the Swap n’ Shop tab. Just let us know if you want something posted there. All contributions are welcome .... articles, reviews, photos, columns, questions, and suggestions. All letters to the editor will be published. Feel free to express yourself. Next issue: Summer 2015 | deadline for submissions July 1, 2015 Jennifer Osachoff | [email protected]

Officers and Directors President

vacant

Vice President

vacant

Secretary

Donna Goodridge

Treasurer

Al Ritchie

Director

Sylvan Katz

Director

Jennifer Osachoff

Director

Sara West

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Committees ~ Coordinators and Volunteers: Committee Communications:

Coordinator Sara West

Volunteers Jennifer Osachoff, Daphne Ash

Communications, advertising and marketing, newsletter

Information Technologies:

Sylvan Katz

Website, social media, archives

Programming: Pond tours, Swap&Shop, society liaison, Gardenscape Membership: Membership, recruitment

Al Ritchie

Donna Goodridge, Heather Gerstmar, Lloyd Borschneck, BobTurczyn

Al Ritchie

Sara West

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Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting was held on March 8 at the Saskatoon School of Horticulture. The facility is a lovely meeting place and we were made to feel very welcome. Al Ritchie bucked the refreshment rut by providing Booster Juice; goodies were provided by the directors and the quintessential homemade cookies were provided by Rita Volk. Thanks to all for the great eats!! Of note, there was a lot of discussion about the futures of the society including several options that had previously been sent to the membership. In addition there were some interesting new ideas proposed; these include networking with garden centres, writing articles for “The Gardener” magazine, advertising with SaskTel or Shaw on the community TV channels, developing a Facebook page, liaising with companies that provide pond services, increase exposure with brochures and posters in strategic locations. All great ideas !! So if anyone out there would like to initiate any of these (or any other new idea) we would encourage and support you in every way possible. Regarding the status of the society, the consensus was that the society continues as we are and look at how we should be evolving.

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Gardenscape: Gardenscape was held at Prairieland on March 27 to 29 at Prairieland Park. We had a double space at 20’x10’ and it was full of all kinds of things. Special thanks to all the volunteers who staffed the tables, helped with set up and take down, and supplied materials. There will be a volunteer appreciation day for all those who took part in Gardenscape. Invitations will be sent one the date and venue are set.

- a pond was borrowed from Donna & Jim Goodridge; plants were supplied by Regina Koenders, Glenn Sollosy, and Sara & Blair West; and goldfish were supplied by Walter & Elsie Bueckert

- an eartheater fish from Paraguay in an aquarium was supplied by Bill Bishop

- ongoing video display was set up by Bob Turczyn, who also supplied a stunning water feature

- tables contained printed materials and reference materials The Wet Thumb, Volume 20, Issue 2, Spring 2015 Page | 5

- Bill also set up the floating plant display Not in our display but noteworthy and with a water theme:

- U of S Master Gardener Coordinator Vanessa Young’s inspiration using a hot tub, fountain, and floating things such as water lettuce and hyacinth, flower petals and assorted leaves - Dan Mills of Solar Gardens created these stunning mobiles from urchin shells and air plants

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Did you know ……..

Certain species of orchids grow in water. For example, several Phragmipedium species (slipper orchids) grow in constantly moist conditions and some in quietly moving water. This makes me wonder whether we should try them in our ponds on a shallow shelf. If anyone tries it, do let us all know. Perhaps we can find a brand new addition to our pond plant repertoire.

Phragmipedium longifolium

Catch the view from below the surface *Education *Rentals *Sales *Travel *Service *Commercial *Paddle boarding PADI Five Star Training Facility

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Grandora Aquatics Our water plants are grown locally to ensure a quality product for your pond.

Grandora Aquatics is the only aquatic plant nursery in Saskatchewan offering a full range of aquatic plants and koi fish.. We are open 7 days a week during the season from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm. On Saturdays, we are at the Saskatoon Farmers Market until 2.00 pm and re-open at the nursery at 3.00 pm. We offer a complete range of aquatic plants including:      

Hardy and tropical water lilies. Lotus. Water hyacinths and Water lettuce. Oxygenators. Hardy and tropical marginal plants. Native Saskatchewan plants. 10% discount to PWGS members.

For 2014 we have imported an expanded offering of butterfly koi from 3” to 10”. See the fish holding area in our new retail building. You can see us at the Saskatoon Farmers Market on Saturdays from May 17 until June 28, 2014. Website: www.grandora –aquatics.com

Tel: 306-933-4225

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International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) Membership is free! As an individual member, you’ll enjoy full access to the IWGS website, online quarterly Water Garden Journal, and access to the “Let’s Talk Water Gardening” message board. Get your membership at http://iwgs.org/

Q&A Does anyone have experience with groundwater ponds? Bill Popiel took this photo in January 2013 south of Saskatoon near the river. The groundwater is flowing and there are actually green things growing in January. Bill was wondering whether anyone has experience with water gardening using a ground source stream. Any comments, anyone? Just send any comments to Jennifer at [email protected]

Thanks.

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Bulletin Board The following businesses offer discounts to PWGS Members:     

Boreal Aquatics - 10% discount on plants (direct purchase only) Canadian Tarpaulin - 10% discount with presentation of their ad in this newsletter Early's Farm and Garden Centre - 10% discount on select pond supplies Grandora Aquatics - 10% discount on regular priced items Lakeshore Garden Centre - 10% discount on water plants and water gardening supplies

Thank you for supporting our advertisers Please ensure you have your membership card at time of purchase

Saskatoon Horticulture Society May 23 ~ Garden Plant Sale Fundraiser July 26 ~ City Garden Bus Tour Passport Garden Tours ~ Dates TBA www.saskatoonhortsociety.ca https://www.facebook.com/SaskatoonHortSociety

Saskatchewan Perennial Society Events Plant exchange - May 26 (must be SPS member) Garden tour – June 14 – no charge Garden tour – July 12 – no charge NEST Secret Garden tour – August 9 – tickets available at Dutch Growers and Blossoms www.saskperennial.ca

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The Diving Center 2015 Summer Scuba Classes Check the website for class times http://www.thedivingcenter.ca/

Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Check the website for summer activities www.npss.sk.ca

U Unniivveerrssiittyy ooff SSaasskkaattcchheew waann Centre for Continuing & Distance Education Hort Week July 4 – 10, 2015 informative workshops, classes, tours and lectures https://ccde.usask.ca/gardening/hortweek

Saskatoon School of Horticulture SSH offers a variety of classes, diplomas and certificates, and kids’ camps. In addition, they sponsor a social event called “Friday Evening in the Garden” each month. Check their website for details of all activities. Everyone is welcome. http://saskhort.com/

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PRAIRIE WATER GARDENING SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP FORM The Prairie Water Gardening Society was founded in 1994 by a group of water gardening enthusiasts to promote the awareness and enjoyment of water gardening. Water gardens come in all shapes and sizes, starting with a single water filled urn on a deck or patio. Although a few in a rural setting might look more like a small lake than a pond, most water gardens are in an urban back yard that limits the size to something much more manageable. The Society’s objective is to provide encouragement, information and activities related to water gardening. As with all member driven societies, the opportunity to network with other water gardeners is part of all of the activities in any year. For more information, our website is http://www.prairiewatergarden.ca Membership fee $10.00 includes: * The Wet Thumb (the electronic PWGS newsletter) * Summer Pond Tours * PWGS members Swap and Shop * Educational display at Gardenscape * Invitation to seminars, lectures, workshops and special events when offered * Networking with other water gardeners * Annual General Meeting with slides of the Pond Tours For an additional $18.00 you can get a one year subscription to the Gardener for the Prairies. NOTE: Effective January 2015, the cost of the option for the Gardener increased to $18.00 Memberships are for one year from the date that the membership is purchased and includes two members of one household. Your membership due date is printed after your name on the membership card. Please renew your membership on or before this date. Please make cheques payable to PWGS and return to:

Prairie Water Gardening Society Box 1054, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 3M4 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Name: __________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________ Postal Code ______________________ E-mail: _______________________________________ ___________________Date: __________________ Membership type: New Renewal $10 $28 (includes Gardener for the Prairies) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. PWGS volunteer and helper activities: check all that you are interested in  Director / officer position  Event planning ~ pond tours, Swap & Shop, seminars, etc  Show your pond  Newsletter editor / contributor  Gardenscape  Marketing and advertising ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Do you have any suggestions that you would like to share?

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