June 2009
888-297-6637|www.h2odesignsinc.com

Greetings!

 
Can Someone say "String Algae"!!
 
Wow, we left our pristine pond here in Central Kentucky for a wonderful Florida vacation and in just a week the allusive Green monster had taken over our pond. I have no doubt that many of you are experiencing the same battles in your very own pond. The good news is that String Algae is actually Mother Natures way of keeping your pond clear and healthy even though it is a bit unsightly. There are several factors this year that are playing a role in the increase in String Algae we are all experiencing.
  • Increasing Daytime Temperatures - The warmer days and nights raise your pond temperature and the biological activity of your ecosystem is booming. Conversely your plants are just now starting to take hold and cannot keep up with the excessive nutrient loads that are being produced.
  • Excessive Rainfall - is another contributing factor that adds excessive nutrients from the fresh Rainwater and turf runoff.

What to Do?

  •  Daily/Weekly Maintenance - Now don't Algae panic I'm not talking about spending hours a week here. I'm simply talking about a little piddling around the pond. Use your hands, a plastic rake or purchase an "Algae Witch". This is a really cool tool that we have been using this year to remove Algae from our maintenance ponds. It works really great and is really easy to use. Call Rachel in the store for details on getting one of these really cool tools.
  • Water Treatments - Be careful here, you want to be sure that you are using all organic products and not algaecides. Algaecides are a "Quick Fix" that provide immediate gratification but seldom provide long lasting results. Below are a couple of products that we have available to help you battle String Algae.
    • Eco~Clearer S.A.R. - Can be used to remove String Algae from your Streams and Waterfalls. It is completely organic and will not harm your fish or other wildlife.
    • Eco~Clearer S.A.P. - Applied directly to Algae in your pond will break the Algae loose from Rocks so you can easily skim it out of the water. Again this product is completely organic and will not harm fish or wildlife.

My best piece of advice is to just hang in there. With a little patience and dirty hands your pond will balance out in a month or so and be back to normal.

Sincerely
Jeff Duggins
In This Issue
Garden Center News
Construction News
Hanah's Charity "KOIner"
Austin's Pond Life Lesson
Upcoming Events
July 4th Sale
Friday July 3rd - Saturday July 4th
(Savings & Specials in Next Month's issue) 
 
Build A Pondless Waterfall Day
(Date Changed) 
Saturday July 11th
 
Bubbling Urns and Fountains/Rainwater
 Harvesting Seminar
Saturday July 25th
 
Central Kentucky Pond And Waterfall Tour
Saturday August 15th -Sunday August 16th
Join Our Mailing List!
Photographs From the Field
Build A Pond Day 05/30/2009
(Nicholasville KY)
H2O Designs 2009 Build A Pond Day
Cardinal Enjoying the Wetland (Lancaster KY)
Cardinal - Duggins Residence Lancaster KY
Rainwater Harvesting Fountain (Lexington KY)
Night Fountain - Lexington KY
Pond Waterfalls
(Versailles KY)
Richardson Residence - Richmond KY
Pondless Waterfall
(Richmond KY)
Bogie Residence - Richmond Kentucky
Pondless Waterfall 
(Lexington KY)
McLaughlin Residence - Lexington KY
Garden Center News
Relaxation at home?
 
 Our family just returned from a relaxing vacation at the beach. At night the sound of the ocean helped to relax our entire family.  We had a wonderful time but we were glad to return home. Once at home I poured myself a glass of sweet tea and went to my backyard to sit for a while. I relaized something while sitting there; my backyard was my own private vacation spot.  The sound of the waterfall and stream were as relaxing as the ocean waves.  The fish were swimming in the pond, birds were bathing in the stream and butterflys were kissing the flowers.  As I sat there all the stress from traveling during the day were gone, and I felt at ease.  My mind was clear and the tension in my body was gone. And I didn't have to travel miles away from home, just out my back door.  How do you relax?  Our backyard is a nature oasis; we see various types of wildlife from doves, bluejays, dragonflies, butterflies, and occasionally a rabbit or two.  God has provided us with the best form of entertainment and relaxation thru nature.  So enjoy your home and relax. 
 
FISH.. 
New Fish will be arriving this week.  If you are looking for a specific color or type of fish this weekend only we will be allowing customers to reserve fish, however we will quarantine the fish for 2 weeks before allowing them to go to their new homes   Any fish paid for and reserved on Friday or Saturday will be 20 % off regular price. 
                                
 
PLANTS..  
The new plant of the week is the Water Clover. We have not carried this plant in our store until this year and it is a great addtion to our regular plant selection.  Like the plants name it looks like a group of clovers and yes there are 4 leave clovers. 
Sincerely
Rachel Duggins
Construction News...
Central Kentucky Pond Tour 2009..

Saturday August 15th & Sunday August 16th 2009
Tickets: $10/Adult. Children under 16 Free
 
It is time again for Our 2nd Annual Central Kentucky Pond and Waterfall Tour. While we are still locking down the tour details we wanted to let you know that this years tour will be even more spectacular than last years featuring over 20 of Central Kentucky's finest Pond's and Waterfalls and more importantly the areas most unique and intriging pond owners. This years tour will feature spectacular Ponds, 100 foot long Streams and Waterfalls and 2 of the areas only Rainwater Harvesting Systems. Set the dates on your calendars now and don't miss this unique and fun event.
 
All Proceeds for the pond tour will benefit Camp Horsin' Around. A 191-acre property located in Kentucky's Boyle and Mercer Counties that will provide permanent facilities necessary for ill children including a fully equipped clinic area, dining hall, cabins, and activities areas including a pool and horse stables. The mission of Camp Horsin' Around is to provide a camp facility specifically designed and equipped to enrich the lives of children with serious, chronic illnesses and physical difficulties.

Website: www.camphorsinaround.org
Email: camphorsinaround@windstream.net
Phone: 859-381-9998

 Sincerely

Jeff Duggins 

Hanah's Charity "KOIner"

"Charity Results"
 
I am glad to report that through the Lucky Duck program and my Spring Fun Festival during May we were able to raise $60.00 dollars for Camp Horsin' Around so far this year.   
 
Thank you to everyone who participated in some way to help us contribute to Camp Horsin' Around.
 
We will continue to have days that the lucky ducks are avaiable for purchase through out the rest of the season. 100% of the proceeds from this program will go to support Camp Horsin' Around.   Austin and I look forward to being able to contribute more to the camp this year.
 
Hanah Duggins

Austin's Pond Life Lesson


How do you tell if a Koi is a girl or boy?

Answer: "The girls are different colors and the boys are the same colors ."
 
Well Austin is not right on this one.  Actually the way you tell is by looking at the middle section of the fish.  Males are more streamline and thin, while the females are rounder in the middle.  The smaller the fish the harder it is to tell whether they are male or female.  
 

Austin Duggins

DOUBLE KOIns!!!

Not valid with any other offers/promotions...
Present this coupon upon checkout and Receive double KOIns customer rewards credit on any purchase through June 30th 2009.
Offer Expires: 06/30/2009