There is so much to say about yesterday I don't know where to begin. First of all, the temp was in the mid 40's and it rained all the time. Beautiful weather and I mean that. These wildfires here in Montana have made our normally blue sky turn grey and even yellow-orange colored (I'll add a photo, un-touched, to show you what I mean) and we don't see much rain here where I live.
Bruce Kania, the inventor of these phenomenal islands is quite a fellow. He has many inventions patented which one of the first was a prosthetic lower leg because he couldn't find one that worked well for himself. His philosophy...."If there is a need, invent something to fill it."
Our pond club showed up in full force to Bruce's lovely home to be served a 'pot luck dinner' that he, himself provided...we weren't to bring a thing. I ate things I didn't want to know what they were. They tasted scrumptious and my squirmish stomach just didn't need to know what it was.
We had a regular meeting in his large living room. With over 40 of the members showing up, the room was not crowded. Bruce told us about what his dreams were, what he was doing about them, what we were going to see both on his ponds and in his basement which has large aquariums in different stages of ecological being. Bruce is constantly monitoring all he is involved with to see what he can do to make it better.....more natural in spite of all of us.
If this man is of interest to you, Google his name...Bruce Kania and you will get to know him.
Because of the time to load pictures, I may only add a couple today (depends on how much time it takes) but will add more with some explanations as I can.
First of all, I am going to post a picture of our sky before the rains came and cleansed it...then on to the islands. The fire sky was as you see it in the picture. The other pictures, I tweaked because it was so dark and rainy at the time.
Pond Club's Trip To Floating Islands International
Bruce asked if I would take a picture of 40 people on one of his islands.....I said I would. It was raining, 41F and some of the ladies weren't feeling adventurous enough to get on the island but we did get three or four more people than the previous record on it....
Bruce is the very tall fellow on the left.
Went to an auction today and was able to get a big case of the floating islands. I probably ended up with about 15 of various sizes. Shame on you Bingsbell......without your post I never would have know what they were and passed them up......now I have a LOT of work ahead of me........... LOL
Seriously though, your post was very timely. I am so looking forward to using these next year and would have had no idea what to do with them without the information that you were kind enough to share with us. :-)
Wow...did you ever hit a gold mine!.....I never luck out like that.
You will have to tell us all about what you do with all (each) of your islands. I will be waiting for pictures all year long!
You know you are going to enjoy your 'work'....because anything that we try new in our gardens and ponds is always a fine adventure! Wish I lived closer and I'd be there to be involved! LOL ;>)
