Enjoy Your Pond (November 8th, 2025)

This unique class will help you understand and cement the importance of various critters in and around your pond, including plants, bugs, fish, frogs, and birds.

The framework for the class is based on a song about the basics of your pond's ecosystem created by Dave Hébert (pronounced Ay-bear). We will go over each line, spending time to study the lyrics and learn how they relate to pond management.

See agenda below for full lyrics and their corresponding key topics.

If you like Jonny Cash and country polka music, then this class is for you, even if you are not a pond owner. This education, including the lesson about handling torpedograss, is useful in other areas of your landscape management - and you may learn a trick or two that will save you money!

Info: Key points covered: Native and invasive plants and fish, macroinvertebrates basics and their role in evaluating water quality: which species to look for and what it means. Wading bird overview, ecosystem function, some behavior traits to look for, and identification pointers, including similar looking species differentiation. Native vs. invasive frog identification and overview. Lyrics: Non-invasive plants and fish. Healthy macroinvertebrates!
Wading birds and native frogs. Enjoy your pond!

Info: Key points covered: the lower bank slope, including what it is and which plants thrive there. Overview of turkey tangle frog fruit biology and benefits (why it's a good plant around your pond). UF/IFAS recommendations about pond management and available resources, including where to find them and what you can expect from your County Extension related to pond management. Lyrics: Turkey tangle frog fruit, what smart way to go. That ground cover steals the show! Turkey tangle frog fruit, ‘got a small, purple hat. UF/IFAS recommended!

Info: Key points covered: the upper bank slope, or the drier area that still gets a little wet when the pond is up, or has more water in it. Tropical flatsedge is an easy, free choice. Many landscapes, left alone, will grow it. How to idenify it and benefits to having it around your pond including fly control. It is also one of the most aesthetic native sedges around. Lyrics: Movin’ up the bank slope, there’s old tropical. Cyperus surinamensis!
It’ll make your day – in a beneficial way. Dragonflies need perches!

Info: Key points covered: The bank top and turfgrass. Understanding which grasses to have for which season. Bahia and bermudagrass grow in the spring, summer, and fall, but what about winter? We'll help you understand your options. In addition, did you know wax myrtle can be grown for free? We'll show you how to grow a cutting and turn it into a tree. Lyrics: Onto the bank top – where the good news just don’t [doesn't] stop! Wax myrtle – you can propagate for free!
What about the turfgrass? Keep an eye on that torpedo! Don’t let it get out of hand…

Info: Conclude all major concepts and summarize the key concepts as highlighted in the song. Provide an opportunity for questions about your pond.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County, 543350 U.S. Route 1, Callahan, United States