Octobers monthy meeting welcomed Wes Chiles with Waterscape Concepts who gave us several helpful tips for shutting down our ponds for the winter.

He recommended to stop feeding fish when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees.   Also watch fish for any sign of stress before going into the winter.

The pump may be taken out or left in for the winter. If you leave the pump in your pond you need to watch for water loss due to ice buildup on the falls or from evaporation.

TAWGS' September meeting was held at the Trash Mountain Aquaponics Project center. Thanks to Chris Newell for setting this up for us and to Chris Mammoliti for sharing with us the history, the mission and the functioning of the Trash Mountain Project.

The Trash Mountain Project (TMP) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop Christ-centered environments for families and children living in trash dump communities worldwide. One way of meeting these family's needs is through the development of livelihood projects centered on aquaponics food production systems. Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture (raising fish for food) and hydroponics (raising plants in water rather than soil) in a re-circulating system.

The TMP center in Topeka was set up by local founders to develop and train volunteers to take the ideas and skills to third world countries to set up their own aquaponic systems. At the training center there are rearing tanks for fish (tilapia).

There is plumbing connecting the rearing tanks to settling tanks. Settling tanks are for solids collection and biofiltration (fish waste and ammonia are broken into nitrates and nitrites). Plumbing then connects settling/biofiltration tanks to deep water culture beds. Deep water culture beds are for hydroponic gardening. Plants remove the nitrates and nitrites from the system. Water then goes to a sump tank with a pump pushing clean water back to the rearing tanks.

Trash Mountain Project believes aquaponics will help people become more self-sufficient by providing sustainable food production systems.

Melody Weller from the Wild Bird House in Brookwood Shopping Center shared her wealth of information about hummingbirds. August and September are the big months for hummingbirds. The babies have fledged and are thick on the feeders. All of the hummingbirds are getting ready also for their long migration south. The adult males leave first, then the adult females and finally the young birds leave last. The young hummingbirds must double their weight before they are ready to migrate.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common to our area. Some may be lucky enough to see a Rufus hummingbird come through the area later in the summer or fall. That is why it is important not to take down feeders too soon. They will start leaving late September to early October. Melody leaves her feeders up until November.

Aaron Jones with Schendel Lawn and Landscape shared some of his ideas for landscaping with TAWGS at the May, 2014 meeting. The business started in 2002 as Creative Landscaping and then partnered with Schendel Pest Control to form Schendel Lawn and Landscaping in 2010. They are located at 4707 SW 6th Avenue in Topeka.

Aaron said there are different elements in designing a landscape. There is annual color in the plants you choose. Depth and height are another element to consider just in the setting of walls, fences and trees. Different textures will add to the landscape with rocks, evergreens, water features. Lines and shapes are also something to think about in your design. Finally elements and structures will help add interest to your landscapes in such things as fire features, pergolas, bubbling rocks or landscaping lighting.
A few things to consider when you are designing the landscape is the functionality or purpose, the aesthetics or beauty of the area and the cost.

Some helpful hints for designing were shared by Aaron. The first is to take baby steps, start small. Then walk through plant nurseries and write down what you like. Sketch out your ideas on paper-paper is cheap, plants are not. Try to keep a continuity of materials and lastly, learn from your neighbors.

If you still need further inspiration, you can get more ideas from magazines, social media such as, instragram, pinterest, facebook, etc. Or you can visit botanical gardens around the country.