March  2009
Greetings!
 
With the coldest Winter in recent history coming to an end I, like most of you, am anxiously awaiting the upcoming Spring and Summer. Just today I ventured out to see if our fish happened to be out of their cave gliding around the pond. Sure enough I caught a glimpse of "spooky" (Our Black & White Butterfly KOI) peaking his head out of the cave. Looking around I also noticed an excessive amount of string algae on the pond rocks and bottom. While I knew that Spring maintenance season is just around the corner it was at this very moment that I truly realized how close it was.
 
Rachel and I are
very excited about the upcoming year. We have worked very hard over the Winter to improve all of our services while keeping our prices competitive.
 
In this issue you will find many Spring maintenance programs and tips to help get your pond started off to the right foot and low maintenance all year long.
 
Sincerely
Jeff Duggins
In This Issue
Garden Center News
Spring Cleanouts
Free Spring Cleanout?
$10,000 Backyard Makeover
Hanah's Charity "KOIner"
Austin's Pond Life Lesson
Upcoming Events
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Garden Center News
I am really looking forward to the upcoming season and seeing many of you at the numerous upcoming events we will be hosting at the Garden Center this Spring.  
 
Fish Feeding
Just a reminder you should not feed your fish until the water temperature is above 55 degrees for at least a week or so.  Your fish may look hungry, but their bodies are not ready to take in and dispose of all those nutrients that high quality fish foods possess. 
 
Fish & Plants
We have several quality KOI, Goldfish, and Shubunkins that are anxiously waiting for new homes. Additionally, our new Spring fish supply will be arriving around the first of April.
 
Our plant selection is scheduled to be in the first part of April.   We will have most of our usual plants you have seen over the past few years and some new additions as well. Once we get a definite date for our plant delivery we will send you an update.
 
Water Treatments
We are proud to introduce our new and Improved Eco~Clearer Water Treatment lines. Our custom Eco~Clearer Brand water treatments are  the highest quality environmentally friendly products on the market and since we package them in house you will simply not find a more cost effective solution for keeping your pond clean and clear all year long.
 
Sincerely
Rachel Duggins
Have You Planned Your Spring Cleanout?
A Spring cleanout/maintenance is simply the most important task that you can perform on your pond to ensure you have a clean and healthy pond all season long. For ponds the process involves draining your pond, setting your fish aside in aerated tubs, pressure washing excessive algae and debris from  the walls, removing and rinsing excessive debris from the pond bottom, and finally putting all back together to ensure your finned friends are safe and sound throughout the process.
 
For those of you that are the DIY type we are offering our Spring Maintenance seminar March 27th at our Garden Center. If you plan on attending please contact us in advance.
 
For those who would rather this relatively involved task to our experts, we are currently scheduling Spring Maintenance and already have over 50 customers scheduled. What this means to you is that if you want to have us clean your pond/water feature this Spring you need to act quick. If weather cooperates we are booked through mid April and with uncertain weather this time of year it could easily be late April or May before we can service your needs.
 
Go to http://www.h2odesignsinc.com/spring-pond-maintenance.html to view our Spring Maintenance agreement and submit your deposit.
FREE Spring Cleanout and a Lifetime Warranty Plan?

Pond Maintenance Services

Our scheduled Pond services is not just service. We like to refer to our service plans as an insurance plan for your pond. Insurance that comes with added service. Does your car insurance company check your car out every other week to ensure everything is running perfectly? Do they wash your car and detail the interior every 2 weeks? Do they pay for your oil changes when needed or replace your tires when they are worn out?
 
DOES YOUR CAR INSURANCE OFFER A LIFETIME WARRANTY!!! And how much do you pay a month for your car insurance?

Now you may be saying to yourself that your car is a necessity and your pond is a luxury. Right? WRONG!! How many of you spend more time around your pond than you do driving your car?  Unless you travel for a living I would say 90% of you spend more time around your pond and definitely get more enjoyment from it. So why would you not invest in the future of something that you have built a lifestyle around so that you can enjoy it without worry?

Go to http://www.h2odesignsinc.com/general-pond-maintenance.html to view our Scheduled Maintenance Overview.
Win a $10,000 Backyard Makeover

Habitat loss is the single most serious problem facing Kentucky wildlife today. Natural lands and farms are being converted into suburban developments at an ever increasing rate. Maybe you already feed wild birds, put up nest boxes, or plant flowers for butterflies. If so, your actions have benefited wildlife.

 

How would you like the chance to enhance your backyard habitat with a $10,000 Backyard Makeover? The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) in cooperation with the James C. Salato Wildlife Education Center, located in Frankfort KY, are holding a raffle to purchase chances to win a $10,000 Backyard Makeover. The raffle purpose is to raise awareness for the KDFWR Certified Backyard Habitat program. The winner will be drawn on Earth Day April 22nd 2010.

 

KDFWR has reached out to H2O Designs™ (located in Lancaster KY) to ask for their assistance in providing one of the basic 3 elements (food, shelter, & water) in creating the Backyard Habitat Makeover.

 

When we were first contacted about helping with the program it was almost unbelievable. Just weeks prior we had decided that as a company H2O Designs™ would be focusing on creating sustainable backyard habitats that also offers practical solutions to dealing with rainwater runoff for our customers. In addition to Habitat Loss, residential storm water runoff and the pollution associated with this is the second leading problem that we are dealing with (especially in the Central Kentucky Area)."

 

I believe that the Raffle will bring these two major issues into light so that people will start becoming more responsible for their environment. In the interest of adding value to the raffle H2O Designs™ will be offering the installation labor for the water feature portion of the makeover for free.

 

All proceeds from the raffle will go to the Salato Wildlife Center which features aquariums, dioramas, interactive computer programs, and exhibits of native species and habitats restored to Kentucky by the KDFWR. Outside, visitors may see wildlife in large, natural enclosures, as well as several native plant gardens, wetlands, and habitats representative of each area of the state. Educational programs focus on native wildlife, habitat, and ecology, reach all age groups, and are designed to help teachers meet the standards of the Kentucky Education Reform Act. Admission is free and the center is funded by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and by donations to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

 

To receive a packet containing Raffle tickets you can stop by our store located at 47 George Wilson Dr in Lancaster KY 40444 or call us at (888) 297-6637 and we will have them mailed to you.

Hanah's Charity "KOIner"

Spring Fun Party
March 27th 2010
 
I have worked with Mom & Dad to plan my second annual family fun day in coordination with our Spring Maintenance Seminar. While your parents are learning how to get your ponds up and running this Spring you can join me in fun "festival style" events.
 
We will also have my popular "Lucky Ducks" promotion.  Lucky Ducks is  a game of luck where we have ducks in the indoor pond that you can purchase chances to pick a duck. Each duck will have a pre determined prize on the bottom of the duck.  
 
 
We look forward to seeing you and hope you will help me raise money for our local charities. 
 
Hanah Duggins

Austin's Pond Life Lesson

Why do we clean our ponds in the spring?

Austin's Answer: "To keep the fish form dying"
 
Austin is Partially right. Backyard Ponds are enclosed ecosystems. During the year fish waste and other organic debris builds up in the pond that if left untreated will cause excessive maintenance issues along with increasing ammonia levels that could potentially deadly to pond fish.