June 2 - The Midwest experienced some very low temperatures during the Easter holidays. Many trees and plants were in full bloom, and the frost seriously injured them. Master Gardeners are suggesting that you do nothing to them, and to take a "wait and see" attitude.

Also, john has worked with a neighbor computer guru to computer-assist the Greater Kansas City People to People (GKCPTP) chapter's Sponsor - International Military Student officer matching program.

The GKCPTP chapter has the opportunity of matching their members and officers from approximately 60 countries, who are attending the Command and General Staff College school at Fort Leavenworth.

john and joyce have been part of this social program for 33 years. As a result, they have friends around the world, and it has changed their lives!

To learn more about the International Officer program, click here: GKCPTP International Officer Program.

john and Eddie, john's pond helper, is still building a garden wall along the path behind the big waterfall. So far, the wall has taken about two hundred Pavestone charcoal blocks (25 pounds each) to build the wall. They ran out of blocks, and need about two hundred more to finish the task.

Eddie looks like Charlie Chaplin, has a heart of gold, and is a great spirit. He has been helping john build zenpond for about 11 years now. One day just for something to talk about john asked Eddie what is the best thing that has ever happened to him. Eddie's instant reply was: "working with you".

A photographer, Candice Calhoun, asked to visit zenpond several days ago. She has a very creative eye. Here is one of the photos she took (it is copyrighted by her, and is shown here with her persmission):

June 14 - john and joyce just received a new email from Basso, who lives in Benin, West Africa. They would like to share his comments with you.

"Good morning everybody,
How are you?
Here in Benin everything is going all right. Electricity shortage is lesser and lesser. Electricity can be cut for 20 to 30 minutes, one or two times per day. The dams in Ghana and Ivory Coast are more and more filled. Rains are heavy in the region. With the rains Cotonou entered another troubles. The city is under floods. Many roads are out of use. In many houses beds are put on tables to sleep in. The inhabitants walk on bricks inside their houses to going from room to room, or, from building to building.
Benin got a big help from the United States. Us Embassy in Benin gave to the biggest hospital in the city 3 ambulances, equipments and medicines approaching almost 50,000 $. On 1st June 2007, the tree day in Benin, the same Embassy through its Ambassador, Mrs. Brown, helped some school in Cotonou to plant 1000 trees in their courtyards. Those trees will help as shield against the sun in the dry season.
I heard in the TV that some Guyana terrorists wanted to blast the airport in New York. I can not understand how a human being can be so devilish. May God protect us from such ideas!

Take care and hearty greetings to Joyce, John and Tucky.
Bye Bye,
Basso from Benin"

June 20 - The Tuckmeister doing what he does best:

June 20 - Yesterday, June 19th, the Kansas City Star visited zenpond for several hours to take photos and write an article for the newspaper on June 23 (Saturday). Jim Fussell, a super nice person, is the reporter writing the article about zenpond. Make sure to read it.

June 24 - john and joyce want to thank everyone for their great phone calls and emails about the fantastic article on zenpond in the Kansas City Star's FYI section yesterday. john and joyce want to particularly thank Jim Fussell, the Kansas City Star reporter, for doing such a great job! Jim has been working for the Kansas City Star for 20 years, and he can write SO well! The Kansas City Star photographer, Shawn, also was fun to talk to. Right now, Shawn is at The Boundary Waters with a group of Boy Scouts. The article blew john and joyce away it was so good!

To read the article about "Overland Park Zenpond is Ohm, Sweet, Ohmm",

click here: www.kansascity.com/living, and then put the word "zenpond" into search. Again, the title of the article is "Ohmm Sweet Ohmm".

John and Joyce,
I read the story about your zenpond and wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how much I enjoyed the article. I have always enjoyed nature and the pleasure it brings when you see birds and animals close by. It makes me think what are we doing to the natural habitats when we build on every piece of land. As I get older I appreciate the nature more and more, but if we don't stop taking every bit of land I won't be able to enjoy that much more. Joyce I don't think John is nuts and kudos to him. It just shows how if you want something bad enough no matter where you live if you build it they will come. Thank you for a moving piece as there is too much horror in the news.
Pat

The article in the KC Star yesterday, captured my attention as I saw your name in the Picture.

Congratulations on your labors and creatively, and I'm certain that your folks will be wanting tours!

Just wondering also, if you teach "beginner basic"?

We're trying to come up with activities that we can share with our IO spouses, the officers will be in studies, and Master Gardening is really "in".

Anyway, becoming a "good gardener" is one of my goals after I retire, as I'm quite busy right now!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing, Betty O.

Dear Joyce and John,

How exciting to see your "zenpond" in the paper. I sure know how much work it was designing & building your garden.

Betyy H.

Congratulations ! We just read the article about your Zenpond. It's great ! Nice picture, but too bad you and Joyce aren't in it. Thank you so much for telling us about it. We also have a few nice pictures from the evening we were there. No kidding, that was a very nice article. After all the years you have spent on it you deserve recognition. Now we wonder how many people are going to look up your address and drive by hoping to see it.
You have really created a magnificent setting out there and we are proud to be your friends.

Doris and Al [Mesa, Arizona]

Lana

We saw your front page picture of zenpond,fantastic!

John and Ann

Very interesting article! I remember when you used to sit at the table during breaks at work and sketch out your plans. Doesn’t seem all that long ago, but I guess it was! The results are certainly beautiful. There is something very relaxing about water. :-)

Enjoy your pond this summer! All the best to you and Joyce from Keith and I.

Kathy (Columbus, Ohio)

Hi John,

Pictures in the paper were great!

Gwenn

Okay, you're certifiable. To quote The Kansas City Star, "John Cessna is nuts." Hum? Funny!

The FYI picture of your Zenpond is spectacular! I'm sure you've had comments from your neighbors and ex-coworkers. Are you giving tours yet? The picture sure doesn't do it justice; seeing it in person makes a real difference.

Your "wildlife" of ducks, fish, and herons, sure beat my squirrels, rabbits, opossum, raccoon, and wild ferrule cat gang, that has set up temporary residency under my deck at different times.

If your pond needs to be filled up, just call your local Fire Dept. Ha!

I haven't viewed the www.kansascity.com/fyi/living yet.

Well, the next time you say, "I think I'll put in a pond," we'll start collecting animals two-by-two.

Looks great!
Jim

Are you ever on the KC Water Garden tour?

Sandi Spears
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