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SURFIN' SAFARI POND TOUR 2008 |
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A HUGE THANK YOU!!
On Saturday June 21st Clearwater Ponds held their 5th annual charity pond tour. The day though cloudy and a little rainy was still well supported. We would like to thank those of you who graciously opened your properties, the tour goers loved them all! We were also able to raise $600.00 for The Canadian Diabetes Association. So it was a successful day and it was nice to see those of you who stopped by TERRA Greenhouses Milton to say hello as well, we love to see you! |
| "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time."
~John Lubbock |
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| Water Plants 101- Plant of the Month |
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July Plant of the Month - Lovely Lilies
Well by now your ponds should be blooming with lovely water lilies. I really feel that they are the plant showpiece of a pond. They come in a vast array of colours (even blue) and their large round pads provide fish with privacy and protection from the summer sun. Here are some tips and trivia about Water Lilies.
There are about 70 different species of water lilies. These are grouped into: night, tropical and hardy. Night lilies bloom in the night. Night blooming lilies will not overwinter in your pond, however they are great for people who don't get to spend much time around their pond during the day. They open at dusk and close mid morning when the sun is bright. They are slow to start blooming and require more than 6 hours of sun during the day. Tropical lilies bloom at all times of the day. Most people treat their tropical water lilies as annuals due to the considerable effort required for their continual growth. Hardy lilies are able to withstand overwintering (hardy to zone 4) and are the most common. I find that there is such a vast selection of Hardy Water Lilies that I am quite content to stick to this type. They are like old friends who return each summer to dazzle and sparkle in my pond.
All water lilies require full sun. That means at least 6 hours of sun. However, I have stumbled on a few varieties that will tolerate at little less sun.
A few of them are:
Comanche Changes from apricot yellow to copper red. Flecked leaves, strong grower and bloomer. Spread 10-12 sq ft. Depth 10-24" Zone 4
 Gloriosa Profuse, bright crimson flowers. Free blooming. Bronze green leaves. Tolerates light shade. Spread 6-8 sq ft. Depth 10-20"
Rembrandt Full cup shaped garnet blooms with pink sepals.  Coppery green leaves. Spread 10-12 sq ft. Depth 10-24"
Blooming period for water lilies is typically from June to late September. When choosing a water lily you need to keep in mind the spread of the water lily. The spread will determine the size of container you grow your lily in if you aren't planting it directly into a lily pocket in your pond. Small spreading lilies cover 4-5 sq. ft. of surface area(that means how much room the lily pads will spread on the top of the water). Medium spread is 6-10 sq. ft, and large spread is 10-12 sq. ft. As well as the Odorata type of water lily. Odorata lilies are extremely fast growing horizontal rhizomes and require extra large planting containers (27 L size). The odorata type water lilies are suitable for naturalizing, so if you have a large natural pond, look for this type of lily. Otherwise Odorata type water lilies may not be a suitable choice for smaller back yard ponds.
Also keep in mind the planting depth. Planting depth is measured from the surface of the water to the crown of the plant. Planting depth varies from 6" to as deep as 24". Check the plant tag so you can put it at its favourite height in the pond.
If you water lilies aren't blooming for you check the following: Is the plant situated to deep? Move it a little higher in the pond. Has it been fertilized? Water lilies are heavy feeders use a lily fertilizer stake in the spring that will supply a constant source of fertilizer for the spring summer and fall or insert lily fertilizer tabs monthly into the soil around the roots of the plant. Is it planted to close to the water fall? Lilies do not like to be close to splashing or turbulent water, they like to "sit and look pretty". Has it outgrown its planting container and become root-bound? Hardy water lilies should be divided every two to three years. Is it getting enough sunlight? They require 6 hours minimum for a good showing of blooms. Are Koi or goldfish eating the new growth and possibly disturbing the root system? Koi can become bored if there isn't something for them to pick at. This happens most in ponds that have just bare liner. Rock and gravel give fish something to do by picking off the algae growing on the rocks. Are there aphids on the plants? If so simply spray them off with a hose and let your fish eat them.
Foliage will begin to die back in mid to late fall but roots remain alive. Remove old leaves from the lily. Do this by cutting the stems close to the crown. Do not pull on the stems as this may damage the crown and leave it susceptible to disease.
A new water lily for 2008 is Fire Opal Bright pink double blooms with fiery orange stamens. Greenish purple leaves. Good for naturalizing. Spread 10 - 12 sq. ft. Depth: 10 -24"
Enjoy your water lilies this summer; I know I am already enjoying mine!
Amber
Interesting Facts:
Water lilies were once used in ancient Egyptian art.
The largest water lily is the Giant Water Lily. It can be found in the Amazon. It can grow to be 2 feet to 6 feet in diameter. It provides food for fish and wildlife. The only problem is that it causes drainage problems because of its large size.
The swamp lily is a breed of water lily. It reproduces and grows just as the water lily does. The only difference is that it grows in swamps.
The Yellow Lily's roots are sometimes eaten. White Lily's roots are used to treat sore mouths. The smoke from some lilies burning roots has been used to repel insects.
Claude Monet painted many paintings of water lilies. He got the idea because he had a water garden and enjoyed the plants' beauty and difference.
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Happy Pondering in the sun!
Sincerely,
Clearwater Ponds
"The Pond Squad" |
Clearwater Ponds
