BURTON A botched water pond project led to the formation 13 years ago of the Mid-Michigan Pond and Water Garden Club.

I was in tears when I went to Wild Birds Unlimited with my problem, said Darlene Jennings, club founder and board member.

Jennings said she wanted to create a pond and water feature at her Burton home and had hired a company to do it.

They really made a mess of it, she said. She went to Wild Birds Unlimited in Flint Township to talk with owner Dan Cruz, who has a water pond at his business. The visit sparked an idea to start a local club for pond enthusiasts.

He and Jennings started planning and had 43 people show up at Wild Birds Unlimited for a September 1998 meeting.

The Jennings home was on the first pond tour in 1999.

Jennings said after the first pond tour in the Burton area, seven people built ponds the next year.

We encourage people to take pictures, movies and anything of what they see on the pond tours to help them build their own pond, she said.

This year, 10 locations are on the tour.

Proceeds from ticket sales help club members plan, install, improve and maintain ponds and gardens for public enjoyment, Jennings said.

More than $20,000 has been awarded in grants to 19 schools, churches, organizations and municipalities.

Tickets are $10 for adults and free to children 12 and younger.

In addition to Wild Birds Unlimited, 4208 Corunna Road, Flint, tickets are available at The Pond Store and More, 4293 Crosby Road, Flint; Bentley Florist, 1270 S. Belsay Road, Burton; Easy Growin Nursery, 10295 Duffield Road, Montrose; and Aqua Creations, 11306 S. Saginaw Road, Grand Blanc.

On tour day, tickets also will be available after 9 a.m. at the Kamal and Shashi Gupta home, 8272 Pine Hollow Trail, Grand Blanc, one of the stops on the tour.

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