PondMessenger eNewsletter

PondMessenger - South Africa

Issue 5
Welcome to another issue of PondMessenger, your regional and global review of news and information from the water gardening world. Every month ever more enthusiasts subscribe to one or more of the PondMessenger eNewsletters. As the specialist regional Water Gardener websites develop, regional PondMessenger introductory news pages are being introduced. Currently these can be found on Australian Water Gardener, along with both UK and New Zealand Water Gardener.

	Latest Goldfish Research Two programmes of goldfish research are currently taking place within the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science,Rhodes University, Grahamstown. One is into the Intensive Rearing of Goldfish, the research being focussed on the hatchery phase of the production cycle. The other is on the Effect of Different Diets on the Growth and Survival of Goldfish Larvae. click here
	2005 Waterlily Competition Winners At the recent symposium of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society in Pennsylvania, USA, the winners of the 2005 competition for new waterlilies were announced. The Best New Waterlily of 2005 was judged to be 'Blue Aster'(left) bred by Charles Winch from Australia. This also won the tropical category. The winner of the hardy hybrid category was Andreas Protopapas from Cyprus with a creamy-white waterlily called 'Maria'. For further information about the entries and the winners click here. Photo: Noelene Pullen
	Centenary of the Waterlilies The most famous publication ever written about waterlilies, and still the standard botanical reference for most botanists and gardeners, is Henry Conard's The Waterlilies. This was published by the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 1905. The original publication is virtually unobtainable, but there has been a reprint of this monumental work in both cloth bound and soft cover editions. These are available directly from the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society click here. Apart from being a serious botanical treatise, the book contains a number of fine coloured plates. These can be seen in The South African Water Gardener Art Gallery click here.
	Plant of the Month - Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) This is a fine upright bog garden perennial, 60-90cm tall, which has bright green foliage and produces spires of vivid red flowers during late summer. The blossoms comprise five petals, all united into a tube-like flower, with a small bunch of anthers. In its native North America it is a favourite humming bird flower. In very cold districts the over-wintering rosettes are often lifted, boxed up and given the protection of a cold frame until the spring when they are replanted. Otherwise they remain in the ground over winter and are lifted and divided in the spring. Seed raising is an alternative method of propagation.
	KHV Vaccine is Pronounced Safe Scientists from the Hadassah, Medical School of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, working with the government’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, have just published the results of their recent study into a KHV vaccine in the journal Vaccine. The principle behind the vaccine is that it is a weaker form of virus that stimulates the immune system of the fish to create anti-bodies to resist KHV infection, without actually giving it to the fish. It is known as an attenuated virus. Although carp are very sensitive to viruses and can acquire them by merely swimming in the water where they are present, infection is dependent upon temperature more
	Ichthos Newsletters Ichthos is the friends of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity more. It aims to facilitate easy communication between its scientists and the members of the public who have an interest in fish research and the aquatic environment. back copies of the Newsletters are available at R6.00 a copy click here.
	Floating Islands There has been a trend recently to the use of floating islands in water features. Small islands that can accommodate non-aquatic plants, especially brightly coloured annuals like Busy Lizzies or Impatiens. Petunias of compact strains and cultivars are also excellent more
	Controversy Surrounds New Slocum Book Controversy is surrounding a new publication written by the famous American hybridiser of waterlilies and lotus, the late Perry D. Slocum. A fully updated work based upon that originally published in 1996 by Timber Press and written by Perry Slocum and Peter Robinson. The book has stirred up considerable comment from many in the scientific community, and also amongst members of the International Waterlily Society, particularly with regard to statements made around the parentage of some of his hybrids. A number of modern day hybridisers in the International Waterlily Society find the late Perry Slocum’s statements concerning his hybrids flawed, and have spoken out quite strongly click here.
	Making an Ali Baba Fountain Self-contained fountains are very popular and versatile.To provide an exotic Eastern effect in a corner of the garden an Ali Baba fountain is perfect. This is one of a growing number of Step-by-Step practical water gardening sequence to be found on the Water Gardener websites click here. Photo: Interpet
	Edging a Pond with Pavers - Step-by-Step Providing an edging using pavers is amongst the simplest and tidiest ways of finishing off a formal liner pond. This is one of a growing number of Step-by-Step practical water gardening sequences to be found on the Water Gardener websites click here. Photo: Interpet
	Society Spotlight - The St. Louis Water Gardening Society The Society was established in 1990 to provide a focal point for water gardeners in the area. It is well-known locally for its civic project, the planting and care of the Jewel Box waterlily ponds in Forest Park. To learn more about this and the Society’s other activities visit click here.
	Website of the Month The website this month is of the Goldfish Paradise Society, a global community of goldfish enthusiasts that share a common affection for goldfish and a desire to share their knowledge to further goldfish health and well-being, both in the garden pond and the aquarium. The aim of this website is to provide goldfish enthusiasts with a wealth of information, advice, and experience, and to become an important on-line resource for the goldfish enthusiast click here.
	Trivia Spot - Goldfish Racing A bar in Utah in the United States is under extreme pressure to stop the practice of goldfish racing. Goldfish are raced down a broad-based trough in the bar, which is filled with water. At the end of the race the bar patrons take their goldfish home. It seems that unless there is legislation to prevent the practice, that it is likely to continue, not only in Utah, but across North America as it has now become part of the packages of several companies that provide corporate entertainment.
	Games -Tobby Kingyo This is a strange Japanese fishing game is based upon the Japanese sport of Goldfish Scooping, where contestants scoop as many goldfish as possible out of a tank and into a bowl with a rice paper scoop in an allocated time. With the free on-line game, scoops are used to catch both fish and turtles, and these are placed in a bowl. However the scoop wears out quickly and needs replacing regularly. The Editor had great fun trying to catch the fish, but was not sure whether he had won as the result was in Japanese! To try your luck click here.
	Competition Come up with a clever caption for the photo on the left and you could be this month's winner. The prize is a copy of the Interpet Container Water Gardens handbook by Philip Swindells. Good luck! Send your entry to editor@pondmessenger.com
	Competition Result The Results of last Month's Competition: "I bet I can spray higher up the wall than you!" The winner is: Albert Ligne, Eugene, Oregon, USA