| Favorite Quote: |
| Favorite Quote: |
| Need A Good Notary? We Suggest... |
| Whats Growing On ? |
| September 2006 Vol. 10, No. 2 |
| PONTZ LANDSCAPE SERVICE, INC. |
| 813 ROHRER RD. LANCASTER, PA 17603 |
| 717-285-3510 / FAX 717-394-6485 |
| Millersville Community Parade Is Just Around the Corner: |
It’s that time of the year again. Time
for the Tenth Annual, Millersville
Community Parade. We’ve said it
many times before and we’ll say it
again; if you haven’t taken your family
to see this parade, you’re truly missing
out on a fun time. This is a GREAT
family event and it’s free. Trust us
when we tell you, you WILL have a
great time when you attend the
Millersville Parade.
This year’s theme is “Dance to the
Music” and the theme itself promotes
fun. The two hour plus parade is
comprised of about one hundred fifty
units including many local service
organizations, scout troops, floats,
clowns, sports mascots, fire
companies and numerous musical
organizations.
Seventeen bands are already
scheduled to appear including the
Penn Manor High School Band,
Millersville University Band, Gen.
Reynolds Coronet Band Conestoga,
Pa.), Kiltie Band of York (York, Pa.),
Westminster Municipal Band
(Westminster, Md.), York Middle
School, Colonial Fife and Drum Corps
(York, Pa.), Yankee Rebels Drum and
Bugles Corps (Baltimore, Md.), Boy
Scout Troop 53, Fife and Drum Corps
(Mt. Joy, Pa.), T and T Steel Drum Band
(Baltimore, Md.), Rajah String Band,
Hanover Lancers Drum and Bugle
Corps. (Hanover, Pa.), Columbia VFW
Band (Columbia, Pa.), Woodland String
Band (Philadelphia, Pa.), Bonsal Blues
Band (Bellmawr, N. J.), Ceol Neamh
Pipe and Drums Band (Lancaster, Pa.),
Zembo Shrine String Band.and
Dixieland Express.
Pontz Landscape Service, Inc. is proud
to be a major sponsor of the Millersville
Community Parade. We hope to see
you and your family on October 28th.
If you would like to obtain additional
information regarding the parade,
volunteer to help, be a participant or
become a sponsor, please call the
parade “hotline” at 717-871-2213 or go
to the parade web site at www.
millersville.edu/~alumni/parade.html.
Hope to see you and your family on
October 28th.
for the Tenth Annual, Millersville
Community Parade. We’ve said it
many times before and we’ll say it
again; if you haven’t taken your family
to see this parade, you’re truly missing
out on a fun time. This is a GREAT
family event and it’s free. Trust us
when we tell you, you WILL have a
great time when you attend the
Millersville Parade.
This year’s theme is “Dance to the
Music” and the theme itself promotes
fun. The two hour plus parade is
comprised of about one hundred fifty
units including many local service
organizations, scout troops, floats,
clowns, sports mascots, fire
companies and numerous musical
organizations.
Seventeen bands are already
scheduled to appear including the
Penn Manor High School Band,
Millersville University Band, Gen.
Reynolds Coronet Band Conestoga,
Pa.), Kiltie Band of York (York, Pa.),
Westminster Municipal Band
(Westminster, Md.), York Middle
School, Colonial Fife and Drum Corps
(York, Pa.), Yankee Rebels Drum and
Bugles Corps (Baltimore, Md.), Boy
Scout Troop 53, Fife and Drum Corps
(Mt. Joy, Pa.), T and T Steel Drum Band
(Baltimore, Md.), Rajah String Band,
Hanover Lancers Drum and Bugle
Corps. (Hanover, Pa.), Columbia VFW
Band (Columbia, Pa.), Woodland String
Band (Philadelphia, Pa.), Bonsal Blues
Band (Bellmawr, N. J.), Ceol Neamh
Pipe and Drums Band (Lancaster, Pa.),
Zembo Shrine String Band.and
Dixieland Express.
Pontz Landscape Service, Inc. is proud
to be a major sponsor of the Millersville
Community Parade. We hope to see
you and your family on October 28th.
If you would like to obtain additional
information regarding the parade,
volunteer to help, be a participant or
become a sponsor, please call the
parade “hotline” at 717-871-2213 or go
to the parade web site at www.
millersville.edu/~alumni/parade.html.
Hope to see you and your family on
October 28th.
| “Wisdom – Seven characteristics distinguish the wise; he does not speak in the presence of one wiser than himself, does not interrupt, is not hasty to answer, asks and answers the point, talks about first things first and about last things last, admits when he does not know and acknowledges the truth.” |
| The Talmud |
| In The Spotlight: Some Recent Projects |
Limestone Farm pond project, Lancaster, Pa.:
A major renovation project was recently conducted at the historic
Stauffer Farm (Limestone Farm), located in E. Hempfield Twp. just outside
of Rohrerstown. The entire property, which includes a total of four
houses, garages and several barns, received a total “makeover”. Part of
the renovation included the revitalization of a large pond located about a
hundred feet from the main house. That's when we were called in.
The pond had been severely neglected over the years. The edges of the
pond were completely overgrown with weeds and other vegetation;
muskrats had tunnels all around the pond and it was covered with algae.
The pond was surrounded by an old rusty chain link fence and it looked a
“mess”. We were approached and asked if we could improve the
appearance and quality of the pond. Although we felt it was a daunting
task, we decided to accept the challenge.
The first step was to remove the old fencing around the pond and hire an
exterminator to eliminate the “varmints”. A large pump was placed in the
pond and the pond level was lowered by about four feet. We hired our
excavator to regrade the edges of the pond and add stabilization material
and “rip rap” around the edges (approximately 600 linear feet). A small
flat bottomed boat was used to access the pond surface physically
remove most of the existing algae. After this was done, we installed a
“diffuser” (aerator) on the bottom, upper end of the pond in order to
oxygenate the water.
The next step involved positioning a floating fountain head in the lower
end of the pond. This was done to provide not only visual interest but to
help oxygenate the water. The fountain head is surrounded by a ring
containing four 150 watt lights to illuminate the pond at night. In addition
to the fountain, three floating plant islands were added. These islands
contain a variety of aquatic plants which will thrive on the nutrients
present in the pond water reducing algae growth. Liquid algae control
was placed into the pond and several bales of barley straw were added to
the pond edges to further aid in reducing algae. Lastly a new aluminum
fence was installed around the perimeter of the pond. The pond was
already home to a significant amount of fish, frogs and other wildlife so no
further wildlife was added. Some very large (and seemingly happy) bass
were observed swimming around the edges of their newly restored
home. Overall, the project was, although challenging, a fun project to
work on and the end result speaks for itself.
Subcontractors for the project included:
D.H. Funk, Columbia, excavator, embankment improvements
Solanco Vinyl Fence Co., Quarryville, aluminum fence
R. W. S. Co., Lititz, Pa.:
Tired of the smell of chlorine emitting from the 175,000 gal. pond located
next to their office building and adjacent to their employee’s outside patio,
the R.W. S. Co. contacted us and asked us if it would be possible to
convert their pond from a chlorinated pond to a natural pond complete
with fish and aquatic plants. We advised them how it could be done and
the okay was given to proceed.
In order to do the conversion, the pond first had to be emptied to dispose
of the chlorinated water. The next step was to create a large bog area at
the one end of the pond (10 ft. wide by 50 ft. long by 5 ft. deep). Next, two
“wetwells” were installed in the pond. “Wetwells” are simply large PVC
tubes that are installed into the pond and they house the pumps which
then pump the water from the wetwell into the bottom of the bog area.
The water then comes up through the stone in the bog area and bacteria
living in among the stone eat the impurities in the water, thus cleansing it.
As the water continues up through to the top of the bog, the roots of the
aquatic plants that are growing in the bog take up additional nutrients and
this also helps to cleanse the water. The water then flows by gravity back
into the pond.
Although there already is a large fountain in the pond, a diffuser (aerator)
was added to the pond in an effort to provide additional oxygen. In order
to provide additional algae control, twenty five tadpoles and two hundred
Japanese snails were added. Tadpoles and snails feed on algae and thus
are a natural way to help keep it under control.
Just before the pond was refilled (by wells located on the property),
Anacharis (an underwater oxygenating plant) were placed in the bottom
of the pond. As the pond filled, thirty Water Lilies were planted around the
edges of the pond in an effort to create visual interest. Additional plants
will be added in the spring of next year. A few assorted types of fish were
placed in the pond with plans to add numerous more fish in the spring
A major renovation project was recently conducted at the historic
Stauffer Farm (Limestone Farm), located in E. Hempfield Twp. just outside
of Rohrerstown. The entire property, which includes a total of four
houses, garages and several barns, received a total “makeover”. Part of
the renovation included the revitalization of a large pond located about a
hundred feet from the main house. That's when we were called in.
The pond had been severely neglected over the years. The edges of the
pond were completely overgrown with weeds and other vegetation;
muskrats had tunnels all around the pond and it was covered with algae.
The pond was surrounded by an old rusty chain link fence and it looked a
“mess”. We were approached and asked if we could improve the
appearance and quality of the pond. Although we felt it was a daunting
task, we decided to accept the challenge.
The first step was to remove the old fencing around the pond and hire an
exterminator to eliminate the “varmints”. A large pump was placed in the
pond and the pond level was lowered by about four feet. We hired our
excavator to regrade the edges of the pond and add stabilization material
and “rip rap” around the edges (approximately 600 linear feet). A small
flat bottomed boat was used to access the pond surface physically
remove most of the existing algae. After this was done, we installed a
“diffuser” (aerator) on the bottom, upper end of the pond in order to
oxygenate the water.
The next step involved positioning a floating fountain head in the lower
end of the pond. This was done to provide not only visual interest but to
help oxygenate the water. The fountain head is surrounded by a ring
containing four 150 watt lights to illuminate the pond at night. In addition
to the fountain, three floating plant islands were added. These islands
contain a variety of aquatic plants which will thrive on the nutrients
present in the pond water reducing algae growth. Liquid algae control
was placed into the pond and several bales of barley straw were added to
the pond edges to further aid in reducing algae. Lastly a new aluminum
fence was installed around the perimeter of the pond. The pond was
already home to a significant amount of fish, frogs and other wildlife so no
further wildlife was added. Some very large (and seemingly happy) bass
were observed swimming around the edges of their newly restored
home. Overall, the project was, although challenging, a fun project to
work on and the end result speaks for itself.
Subcontractors for the project included:
D.H. Funk, Columbia, excavator, embankment improvements
Solanco Vinyl Fence Co., Quarryville, aluminum fence
R. W. S. Co., Lititz, Pa.:
Tired of the smell of chlorine emitting from the 175,000 gal. pond located
next to their office building and adjacent to their employee’s outside patio,
the R.W. S. Co. contacted us and asked us if it would be possible to
convert their pond from a chlorinated pond to a natural pond complete
with fish and aquatic plants. We advised them how it could be done and
the okay was given to proceed.
In order to do the conversion, the pond first had to be emptied to dispose
of the chlorinated water. The next step was to create a large bog area at
the one end of the pond (10 ft. wide by 50 ft. long by 5 ft. deep). Next, two
“wetwells” were installed in the pond. “Wetwells” are simply large PVC
tubes that are installed into the pond and they house the pumps which
then pump the water from the wetwell into the bottom of the bog area.
The water then comes up through the stone in the bog area and bacteria
living in among the stone eat the impurities in the water, thus cleansing it.
As the water continues up through to the top of the bog, the roots of the
aquatic plants that are growing in the bog take up additional nutrients and
this also helps to cleanse the water. The water then flows by gravity back
into the pond.
Although there already is a large fountain in the pond, a diffuser (aerator)
was added to the pond in an effort to provide additional oxygen. In order
to provide additional algae control, twenty five tadpoles and two hundred
Japanese snails were added. Tadpoles and snails feed on algae and thus
are a natural way to help keep it under control.
Just before the pond was refilled (by wells located on the property),
Anacharis (an underwater oxygenating plant) were placed in the bottom
of the pond. As the pond filled, thirty Water Lilies were planted around the
edges of the pond in an effort to create visual interest. Additional plants
will be added in the spring of next year. A few assorted types of fish were
placed in the pond with plans to add numerous more fish in the spring
| Continued on Page Two - Click Here |
| Newsletter Page Two |
| Aqua-terra Club of Central Pennsylvania: |
* In The Spotlight Continued
If you have an interest in ponds, we suggest you consider joining the
Aqua-terra Club of Central Pennsylvania. The club is co-sponsored by Pontz
Landscape Ser., Inc. and Zieglers Greenhouse and Aquatic Nursery and it
meets during the warmer weather months at various locations. To find out
more about the club, go online to http://colorbat.com/aquaclub.htm
Aqua-terra Club of Central Pennsylvania. The club is co-sponsored by Pontz
Landscape Ser., Inc. and Zieglers Greenhouse and Aquatic Nursery and it
meets during the warmer weather months at various locations. To find out
more about the club, go online to http://colorbat.com/aquaclub.htm
| CAM NOTARY & MESSENGER SERVICE (Close to Donnerville Rd. @ Columbia Ave.) |
| Carman Pontz Ph.717-285-4166 Fax: 717-285-4473 email: camnotary@earthlink.net |
| “Life is the first gift, love is the second and understanding the third” |
| Marge Piercy |
* Longs Park Arts and Crafts Festival
Newsletter Archive:
| Controlling Algae |
| Newsletter Moves to Website |
| Introduction to Fiber Optic Lights |
| Preparing your pond for winter |
| Garden Expo Announcment |
| Plants for the Edge of Ponds |
| 20 Pond Myths Debunked |
| click to enlarge |
| click to enlarge |
| click to enlarge |
| click to enlarge |
* Pondemonium report
* Gardening tips
* Calender of Events
| A float from the 2005 Millersville Community Parade |
| Preparing your pond for winter: |
If you own a
pond and want
to learn more
about how to
prepare your
pond for the
cold winter
months ahead,
visit our Care Guides page or
click here for step by step
instructions
pond and want
to learn more
about how to
prepare your
pond for the
cold winter
months ahead,
visit our Care Guides page or
click here for step by step
instructions
