Well, spring is in its final hours, as the first day of summer officially arrives at 5:46 Universal Time on June 21, marking the Summer Solstice. Spring of 2009 for those of us in the Southeast has been a gift from heaven. It has brought ample rainfall, which has served to end the region's three-year drought and restored the our lake levels to near normal (I wonder where the “experts” are now who promised it would take three years for the lake levels to be restored). This Spring has also treated us to many cool days . . . sort of like the Energizer Bunny, in that they kept “coming and coming and coming.” But alas, those cool days will soon be but a distant memory as the summer sun makes its mark on the thermometer.

With summer season upon us, the good ship Aquascape Environmental has been sailing “full steam ahead,” addressing the various lake and pond issues that seem to pop up overnight. In meeting with lake and pond owners to review their issues, one of the comments that I commonly hear is, “I've had this lake for many years and I have NEVER had this problem before.” In response to such remarks, I take a moment to slowly remove by bifocals, and explain that I used to have 20/20 vision and now I don’t. I get a few puzzled look until I explain an important limnological fact: Things change, including lakes and pond. Some understand and some do not; either way, I press on toward addressing the issues at hand.

Until next time,

Jim