For those of you within driving distance (or willing to travel) we hold monthly demonstrations on various topics of water gardening interest.  (Directions)  Demonstrations are held throughout the year on Saturday, Sunday and an occasional Wednesday, the demonstrations last between an hour and a half to two hours.  The topics are designed to give an in depth look at the topic to give the attendees a chance to learn what really matters. Due to a great response to our pond and waterfall demonstrations, we have scheduled them several times throughout the season. The sessions are held rain or shine unless exceptionally severe weather occurs. There is no registration or charge for these informative classes. Dress appropriately for outdoor programs.

DEMONSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS:

Get Ready for Spring and Summer
Discussion center on pond care and all the things you need to know to enjoy your water garden all season. Stocking a water garden, fertilization and maintenance are all covered. A segment is included dealing with care and stocking of fish and scavengers. Cleaning of the water garden and repotting of plants is demonstrated. This is a great program for the beginner.
Program time: approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.

How to Build a Pond and Waterfall
In this program, we discuss locating a water garden in your landscape with emphasis on proper conditions needed to be most successful. (Look for dates of our advanced sessions, too.) We center the presentation on using a rubber liner for construction of the pond and falls. We demonstrate pond edging and waterfall construction using our time tested mortarless technique. We show the use of natural stone to create an effect that blends with the landscape. While we do not have time to construct a pond in it's entirety, you will learn many tricks that make your own project easier and the envy of your neighbors.
Program time: approximately 1 3/4 to 2 hours.

Advanced Water Garden Construction
For the water gardener who wants more information on installation and use of pond components like skimmers, biological filters, UV sterilization and plant filtration. We will get deeper into these topics than is possible during our regular construction seminar. We will be able to take a look at these products and how they have been installed here. General installation is covered briefly in this session, but is covered fully in our "How to Build a Pond and Waterfall" program.
Program time: approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.

Nightscaping



Adding lights to your pond and surrounding garden can extend your enjoyment into the evening and winter season. Outdoor, low-voltage lighting adds security and value to your home. Come learn the easy steps to including lighting for your landscape and water garden. This evening seminar ends at nightfall so you can enjoy our gardens at dark to fully appreciate the possibilities.
Program time: approximately 1 hour.

Container Water Gardening


Enjoy water gardening without digging a hole. Tabletop fountains, patio ponds, patio bogs, and carnivorous tub gardens are featured in this session. Small-scale gardening can be easy and fun for the beginner and for the experienced water gardener. A full discussion of plants, fish and pumps for small ponds will be covered.
Program time: approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.

Kids Day ($35.00 fee required)
Back by popular demand, we are inviting children to come to Springdale to learn a bit about pond and wetland ecology and put together a small tub garden to take home. We will take a walk to feed the fish and talk about how aquatic plants clean the pond environment. We will also go to the wetland to see nature's cleaning system for our streams. After the short walk, we will gather together to select bare root plants that the kids can plant and take home to grow. The Kids Kit will include a Lerio 12 pond (23" X 7" deep), two bog plants, an underwater plant, two snails and a fish, and instructions for care after the pond goes home.
Program time: approximately 1 to 1.25 hours.

Winter is Coming! What Do I Do?

The season winds down and the pond begins to go dormant. As the water gets colder, everything begins to change. Learn when to stop feeding the fish and plants, how to clean the pond, how to install netting to keep leaves out of the water and how to get ready for Old Man Winter. We will talk about de-icers vs. running pumps in the winter or letting the pond freeze over.
Program time: approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.