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Sept./Oct. 2009
888-297-6637|www.h2odesignsinc.com |
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Greetings! |
Fall Is In The Air.... To me fall is a bitter sweet time of year. While I enjoy the fall air, pulling on a sweatshirt and relaxing by the pond, listening to the waterfalls, and breathing in the aroma of the fresh crisp fall air with the hint of water, to me the Autumn air indicates the beginning of the holdiay season and winter will soon follow.
Helping the kids scoop the stuffing out of the pumpkin, cut the eyes, nose, and mouth out, putting the candle inside, and lighting it by the pond, and standing back to see the magical smile or scowl that has magically appeared in the night air helps sweeten the bitter reminder that winter is just around the corner. For my family Halloween kicks off the Holiday Season, with Thanksgiving and Christmas following close behind. I (like all true kids at heart) get excited when the holidays roll around.
The temperature is creeping low enough to that 55-degree mark when you stop feeding your fish. You may have even pruned back the lilies, cattails, and iris. But the waterfall is still flowing freely, and the fish are still roaming from rock to rock, and you think to yourself, "Wouldn't the pond look great at night, decorated with a handful of creative jack-lanterns sitting around it?" It would be very seasonal.
Why stop there add a scarecrow or two, an old witch on a broomstick, bats in the trees hanging overhead, and drape spider webs around the plants as icing on the cake. What the heck, at this time of year a net over the pond to catch the leaves could work its way into your water gardening décor. There's Only One Thing Left to Do once you've gone to all this trouble, have a party. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors . After all they always love to come and gather around the pond, especially at night. And what do you think their reaction will be to the Octoberization of your pond? As you know, having a pond is an enjoyable and creative experience all year round, so long as you learn to dance with Mother Nature and avoid stepping on her toes. And don't forget, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.
Sincerely
Jeff Duggins |
| Fall/Winter Maintenance Services/Tips |
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Now is the time of year you should be preparing your Pond/Water Feature for winter. If you missed our Fall Maintenance Services/Tips mailing a couple of weeks ago Click Here or visit
We offer several services/products to assist you with your Fall maintenance from Cold Water Bacteria to Pond Netting Services.
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Winter Store Hours |
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Starting Nov 1st
Wed-Fri 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat - Tues By Appointment Only
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Online Store Open 24-7 All Winter |
| Photographs From the Field |
Pondless Waterfall (Eubank KY)
Somerset Childrens Garden 
Hanging Out In Pikeville
Bubbling Fountain (Lancaster KY)
Organic Pond (Lexington KY)
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"Pictures in Ponds" Photo Contest Results... |
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Thank you to everyone who participated in our 1st ever Picture in Ponds contest. We so many great entries that it was truly a task deciding on the winning photographs. We hope everyone enjoys these pictures/stories our participants have been gracious enough to share with us. click here to see all entries.Contest Results
People & Ponds (Winner) 
Submitted By: Howard Family (Lancaster KY)
This was the last picture taken of my father, Linden Stocker. He always loved seeing my KOI in the pond and how spoiled they were when you feed them. It was one of his favorite things to do when he came to my house. This picture was taken the Sat. before Labor Day 2007, one month after his diagnosis of a cancer of the blood, and approximately one month before he died on Oct. 12, 2007. This was the last time we were all together and the last time my children saw their Granddaddy alive. He was weak at this point and had to bring his chair up to sit and feed the fish and watch the pond. My son is kneeled beside him watching with him.
Pond Life (Winner) 
Submitted By: Santrock Family (Nicholasville KY)
Our family loves to wait until dark and go frog spotting with our flashlights. We found this little frog first on the patio- he quickly jumped into the pond; we followed him around quite a bit watching him try to hide until he finally seemed to give up and just posed for us on the lily pads.
Most Natural Photograph ( Winner)
Submitted By: Parrigan Family (London KY)
Since the construction of our home 19 years ago I always dreamed of owning a KOI pond. I guess you would agree that this pond was well worth waiting for (even waiting 19 years). We now have much more than a KOI pond. We have a bit of our heritage in our back yard.
Most Unique Photograph (Winner) 
Submitted By: Santrock Family (Nicholasville KY)
"I'm goin' fishin' mom!" Though it looks as though my son is tourturing this fish, it actually speaks to the unique friendliness of this fish.
Best Overall Photograph (Winner)
 Submitted By: Powell Family (Lexington KY)Keara is presently our foster grandbaby and she is the apple of our eye. That is why we take so many pictures of her in our pond - the most serene place in our yard
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Rachel's Pond Views |
Why we love our pond? 
Usually there is a holiday decorating theme to my part of the newsletter this time of year, however while trying to write the article I realized that there are several reasons my family enjoys our pond as much as we do. Here are a few:
Relaxation: I could sit and watch the fish for hours, or close my eyes and just listen to the waterfalls and nature around me. After a long day I come home and sit by the pond and the tension and stress just melt away.
Teachable Moments: There is always something for Hanah and Austin to learn when we are outside by the pond. It could be questions they ask (Do fish eat bugs?), natures lessons ( the spider that lives in a tree by the pond catching bugs in her web), responsilbity (Austin bringing home a hurt turtle to stay in our pond) or countless other teachable moments.
Family Togetherness: Our pond gives us things to do outside as a family. Some of the activites we enjoy are feeding the fish, picking out leaves, or eating dinner beside the pond and decorating around the pond. The pond is a great place to get our children to talk about their day instead of watching TV and ignoring us.
Providing for Nature: Our pond provides food and shelter for more than just our fish. Birds, rabbits, frogs, spiders and other wildlife find nurishment from our pond. We never know what kind of animals we might see in our yard getting a drink.
Finally, Be watching for several unique and interesting holiday specials being offered from our store and online in the weeks to come.
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Hanah's Charity "KOIner" |
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"Silent Auction"
Our 2nd annual Pond Tour was a huge success this year. Thank you for helping me raise $850 for Camp Horsin around. I am already planning events and fundraisors for 2010. Until then Thank You for supporting my fundraising efforts for 2009.
Sincerely
Hanah Duggins |
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Austin's Pond Life Lesson |
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Why Did "Chip" Leave?
For a quick explanation Chip was an Eastern Box Turtle that Austin found on the side of the road next to our garden center. It's shell had been "chipped" assumedly by a passing car. Austin brought Chip home to our pond and was saddened to learn just a week later that Chip had left his new home.
Answer: "He went into the woods to live."
Austin is correct. Eastern box turtles are amazingly versatile animals and inhabit a wide variety of habitats from wooded swamps to dry, grassy fields. Although these turtles can live in a variety of different habitats, they are most abundant and healthy in moist forested areas with plenty of underbrush. Although not aquatic, box turtles will often venture into shallow water at the edge of ponds or streams or in puddles. So more than likely Chip made his way to the wooded area just behind our house to live in peace.
Austin Duggins | |
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