HOTWGPS Newsletter. Volume 10 Issue 3 March 2018

Transcription

1 March Meeting The March meeting will be on March 20th at 6:30 PM. We will meet at Luigi s 319 S Main St., McGregor. Pond Tour Our annual pond tour is coming up. It is scheduled to take place on 9 & 10 June. Please support our only fundraiser and sign up to put yours on the tour. Membership Dues As a reminder, our 2018 membership dues were due January 1, In accordance with our Bylaws, membership becomes delinquent if dues are not paid by the last day of February. You can either bring your dues to the March meeting or mail them to HOTWGPS, P.O. Box 852, Lorena, TX b. Family -- $24 per year c. Associate NON - Voting membership -- $12 per year. d. Corporate/business -- $100 per year. Pond Vac As a reminder, this is a Members Only benefit. You can rent this super-duper pond cleaning machine very reasonably! John Enders is the official pond Vac keeper. Call him or send him an at jnenders@aol.com to schedule your time with the machine. One note of caution when using the pond Vac, watch how much water you are removing from your pond!! It works so well sucking up the yuk that one can easily forget how much water is also being removed! That is the voice of experience talking!! Membership levels are: a. Individual -- $18 per year Page 1 of 8

2 White Water Lily, Fragrant Water Lily Nymphaea odorata Description The white water lily is a perennial plant that often forms dense colonies in the wild. The leaves arise on flexible stalks from large thick rhizomes. The leaves are more round than heart-shaped, bright green, 6 to 12 inches in diameter with the slit about 1/3 the length of the leaf. Leaves usually float on the water s surface. Flowers arise on separate stalks; have brilliant white petals (25 or more per flower) with yellow centers. The flowers may float or stick above the water and each opens in the morning and closes in the afternoon. The flowers are very fragrant. White water lily can spread from seeds or the rhizomes. Page 2 of 8

3 leaves and rhizomes of white water lily, while the seeds are eaten by ducks. Yellow Water Lily, Mexican Water Lily Nymphaea Mexicana Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called detritus ) for many aquatic invertebrates. Deer, beaver, muskrat, nutria and other rodents will consume the Description Yellow water lilies are perennial plants that arise on flexible stalks from rhizomes and large fleshy roots that can resemble bananas. Leaves are oval heart-shape, 3 to 6 inches in diameter, shiny dark green on top and reddish-purple underneath Leaves float on the surface and are seldom emergent. Flowers are large (2 1/2 to 4 inches) bright yellow and usually stand above the water on separate stalks. Yellow water lilies can reproduce from seeds or by spreading of the rhizomes. Page 3 of 8

4 Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.) After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called detritus ) for many aquatic invertebrates. Deer occasionally consume the leaves of yellow water lilies, while ducks consume the seeds and roots as do muskrats, nutria, and other rodents. Page 4 of 8

5 ON THE LIGHTER SIDE What do dogs do after they finish obedience school? They get their masters. Following Directions A young man was planting some flower seeds on a sweltering day, sweating from the hot sun. His neighbor said, "You need to wait until the sun goes down, or plant in the morning when it is coolest." The man said, "I can't do that. It says on the package, 'Plant in full sun!" "No," she said. "I'm going to use a fishing pole." JOANNE HAVERLAND Billings, Montana Practice Makes Perfect A little girl climbed up onto her grandfather's lap and asked, "Did God make me?" "Yes," the grandpa replied. "Did he make you, too?" "Yes." "Well," the girl said, looking at his wrinkles and thinning hair, "he sure is doing a better job nowadays!" GENE CONNOR Vienna, West Virginia LEROY SCHROEDER Albion, Nebraska Gone Fishing My 3-year-old granddaughter, Sydney, told my husband, Ted, and me that she was going fishing with her dad. Ted asked if she was going to use worms. Panicked Preacher In the late '50s I was working construction, leveling the corner of a house that we had jacked about 4 inches above the ground. One of the jacks slipped and the house came down with a loud bang. Page 5 of 8

6 The next thing we knew, the owner, who was a minister, ran out and looked up at the sky. "I thought the Lord was coming!" he told us. We all had a good laugh. ED HOUSWORTH Prescott Valley, Arizona For Richer or Poorer My sister Tina was telling her husband, Kay, about a wonderful program she had watched on TV. The show gave a national award to heroic people who put themselves in grave danger to help out someone they hardly knew. Kay replied, "That sounds a lot like getting married." PAULA HASSLER Tempe, Arizona Saving Grace My niece made some food for another family at church. She prayed over it, asking the kids if they'd like to add anything. Her 3-year-old daughter, Boston, said, "Thank you, God, that we didn't give them all of our food." PAULA HAMPTON Spring Valley, Wisconsin Sunday Best On Easter one year, I got to see my 5- year-old granddaughter, Julia. I wore my best suit for the holiday.. Julia said, "Grandpa, you look so handsome today. Did you take a shower?" WILLIE ADENAU Parsippany, New Jersey Birthday Gift A friend asked me What would you like for your birthday? I replied Nothing would make me happier than a guitar. Great my friend said, I ll get you nothing. Page 6 of 8

7 Aged to Perfection The average age of people living in our retirement community is 85. Recently, a neighbor turned 100, and a big birthday party was thrown. Even his son showed up. How old are you a tenant asked the son. I m 81 years old, he answered. The tenant shook her head. They sure grow up fast, don t they? Please support these businesses who have agreed to give our members a discount at their stores. Page 7 of 8

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