Quest

2003:
7/08/03
6/21/03
6/13/03
5/19/03
5/06/03
4/20/03
3/25/03
3/23/03
2/18/03
1/5/03

2002:
11/11/02
10/11/02
10/03/02
9/1/02
8/10/02
7/14/02
7/2/02
6/4/02
4/6/02
3/14/02

2001:
6/28/01
5/31/01
4/26/01
3/29/01

2000:
11/30/00
10/24/00
9/28/00
8/21/00
7/27/00
6/22/00
5/25/00
4/20/00
3/10/00
2/24/00

QUEST 6/28/01: the monthly bulletin of the Madison Aquatic Gardeners

1. Upcoming meeting dates:

July and August - No regular meetings scheduled.

August 18, Saturday - Aquatic plant gathering field trip: a small interest group activity, still in the planning stage. Contact John: 233-5182 or [email protected]

September 27, Thursday

November 29, Thursday

January 31, Thursday 2002

April 25, Thursday

PROPOSAL: Have four regularly scheduled meetings a year. Reasons: Experience suggests, slim attendance during late Spring and all of Summer.

I think it is important to schedule regular meetings at times when the probability is highest, for good attendance. This helps assure most of us have a change to talk to each other.

Communications: Timely e-mail newsletters between meetings will keep us up on the latest happenings and technical information.

2. Summary of last meeting

This past Thursday, ten of us gathered at Birge Hall to check out the 150 gallon aquarium there. It has 46 different plants. They look quite healthy and were bubbling oxygen. John answered questions about the project and explained the lighting and nutrient strategies. We ran tests to determine the water parameters. Two exhibits are associated with this aquarium. One involves a top view diagram of plant locations. An accompanying chart is organized according to plant families. Plants are coded with a number on the map, so one can identify each plant in the aquarium. Nearby is an illustrated exhibit. Tom prepared the text. It tells about the nature of aquatic plants and the theories of divergence and convergence. Botany department artist Kandis Elliot created the computer generated material for both displays.

Planning for plant gathering field trip is progressing. So far, two potential sites have been reviewed. At the meeting we examined samples of plants from both sites. Tom and I obtained specimens from Hook lake, a bog/marsh having very soft water. I picked up eight different plants from the Mukwonago stream, which has hard water. Tom identified many of the specimens and provided fascinating information on most of them. What a treat!

Aquatic habitats around Whitewater may be the best collection site, Tom assures us. If this project is a "go", we might have time to visit both Mukwonago and Whitewater locations. Will keep you posted, as we get closer to August 18. If you have the time and are interested, come along!