Every body of water in Wyoming is a precious resource. Water in a landscape is particularly valued for its cooling effect.

So why not combine the two and put a body of water in your back yard?

That's a question homeowners can expect to be answered at the Master Gardener's Spring Garden Conference on March 31.

The theme of the annual conference at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center near the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds is "Feathers, Flowers and Fins."

The fins are where the water is. Backyard water features, which can be anything from a bubbling fountain to a koi pond, are becoming more popular in Wyoming.

Conference cochairs and Casper residents Sylvia Kirby and Mary Garrod both have ponds. Kirby said hers is the focal point of her backyard.

"We'd like very much to give the general public here in Casper and the outlying areas some helpful hints, suggestions and methods of utilizing ponds in their landscape," Kirby said. "Ponds really are water conservation, in addition to enhancing your lifestyle. I love mine. It is so tranquil and it just kind of smooths out your mood."

Obvious advantages of water include cooler areas and soothing background sounds on a summer evening.

A little heat and a good circulating pump can also make a pond a year-round feature.

"Mine looks a little bleak right now, but that's OK," Garrod said.

Not-so-often publicized advantages are enhancing wildlife habitat and water conservation. Ken Keffer, of Audubon Wyoming, will certainly mention the birds that visit water features during his presentation on "Inviting Feathered Friends Into Your Favorite Garden."

University of Wyoming horticulture extension associate Donna Cuin said properly sited water features cool while using significantly less water than a similar sized patch of lawn.

"The amount of water they use compared to the Kentucky bluegrass plants is much less," Cuin said.

Featured pond experts are Gregg Sawyer, of Sawyer Waterscaping in Cheyenne, and Casey Sparks - owner of Alpine Koi and Homescapes in Fort Collins, Colo.

But let's not forget the flowers. No Master Gardeners conference is complete without a gardening expert, and this year's expert is exceptional. Dr. James Klett, of Colorado State University, returns to Casper to speak on common, and uncommon, flowers available to Wyoming gardeners.

Klett will also bring attendees up to speed on Plant Select, a cooperative effort by the Denver Botanic Gardens, CSU and regional horticulturists to seek out, identify and distribute the best plants for landscapes and gardens in the Rocky Mountain and plains states.

"He is a wonderful educator. We're very thrilled to have him coming up," Cuin said. "He's going to be talking about the Plant Select Xeriscape horticulture introductions, and he's also going to be talking about the All-American trials that they do there on the CSU campus and introducing some new plants and some unusual plants to Wyoming gardeners."

Meteorologist Don Day (if you listen to a Wyoming radio station, you know Don) will give gardeners tips on how to use weather patterns and climatological research to plan gardens.

All in all, a day well spent for any homeowner.

"We're hoping to have 150-200 people from the public come and learn more in-depth information about gardening to encourage birds, and maybe to encourage people to put in some ponds," Cuin said.

The experts

*Dr. James E. Klett - Dr. Klett has been teaching, researching and providing his expertise for Colorado State University Extension clients since 1978. He is recognized around the West as a top authority on nurseries and landscape maintenance.

Klett will speak on "Flowers for Wyoming Gardeners: The Known and the Unknown."

*Casey Sparks - Sparks has been into ponds and water gardening for two decades, and owns Alpine Koi and Homescapes in Fort Collins, Colo. He is on the board of the International Pond Contractor's Association, and the advisory board of Easy Pro Pond Products.

The subject of Sparks' presentation is how to "Fill Your Pond With Flowers and Fins."

*Ken Keffer - Keffer serves as Audubon Wyoming's Community Naturalist at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek. He is Wyoming born and raised, and has been a traveling researcher since graduating from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Wildlife Biology and Management.

"Inviting Feathered Friends Into Your Favorite Garden" is Keffer's subject.

*Gregg Sawyer - Sawyer, with father Ron and brother Dan, owns Sawyer Waterscaping, LLP, in Cheyenne. The Sawyers began building backyard ponds in Burns in 1988, and turned their hard-earned lessons into a business in 2000.

Sawyer will speak on how ponds are enjoyable, and good for the environment.

*Don Day - Meteorologist and president of Day Weather, Inc., in Cheyenne, Day provides weather services to radio stations and newspapers in eight Western states. He will speak on how weather patterns and climatological research can be useful in garden planning.

If you go …

*WHAT: Master Gardeners Spring Garden Conference

*WHEN: March 31, 8 a.m.-closing

*WHERE: Agricultural Resource Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Rd., Casper

*COST: $30 if you register by March 23; $45 after. Registration forms can be obtained at the center. Mail to: Spring Gardening Conference, Natrona County Master Gardeners, 2011 Fairgrounds Rd., Casper, WY 82604

*INFO: 235-9400

Conference schedule

8-8:30 a.m. - Registration

8:30-9:30 a.m. - "Inviting Feathered Friends Into Your Favorite Garden," by Ken Keffer

9:35-10:30 a.m. - "Tracking the Weather to Help Your Garden," by Don Day

10:35-11:30 a.m. - "Flowers for Wyoming Gardeners: The Known and the Unknown," by James Klett

11:35 a.m.-12:35 p.m. - Lunch, tours of the berm at the Agriculture Resource Center

12:30-1:45 p.m. - "Design and Construction of Water Features," by Gregg Sawyer

2-3:15 p.m. - "Fill Your Pond With Feathers and Fins," by Casey Sparks