Texas Dawn has been an incredible waterlily for nearly 30 years, the wonderful yellow flowers on this hardy lily are held high above the water and blooms in profusion. Hybridizers also enjoy working with the cultivar by Ken Landon. Here are some videos from Ken Landon, Drew Darby, and Tim Davis.

Ken Landon

Drew Darby

Tim Davis

Texas Dawn waterlilies are available for purchase here.

Here is just a peek at what Mike will be bringing to market in the next 2-3 years. Also our friends in Florida have followed in the footsteps of Pairat Songpanich and Mike Giles with more urple hardy waterlilies. Both the blue and purple hardy lilies have been slow too reproduce so they will probably become available 1 or 2 years more slowly than a normal hardy lily. Many of the pink and red lilies multiply faster and could be available sooner.

Mike also has some lilies with blooms nearly the size of a gallon container and in cool weather stay open 6 to 12 days.

More information coming here soon and more waterlilies coming to Pond Megastore.

Beginning in 2012 PondMegastore.com will have exclusive sales rights to the first of Mike Giles hardy waterlilies hybrids. Myra, Sunfire, Fairy Skirt, Yellow Giant, and Hunneycup. In 2013 as long as production goes well we will then bring you the first Purple and Blue hardy waterlilies from Mike Giles.

More Soon….
Zac – water-garden-blog.com / http://www.PondMegastore.com

Tamara Kilbane, grower of the International Waterlily Competition plants in Raleigh, NC, has offered her observations and tips for enhanced blooming of Nymphaea ‘Wanvisa’.

       “As far as my observations of ‘Wanvisa’ – it is a very fast growing plant and a good bloomer.  We saw an average of 2-4 blooms open each day throughout the season, which was no less (and in fact more) than what we saw in many of the contest hardies.  Because it does grow so fast, it can become root-bound by the end of the season, which can in turn cause a decrease in the number of flowers while also causing the foliage to mound above the surface a bit. 

          I  really felt that this plant was a stand out in our pond in 2010.  It bloomed steadily (the blooms do open a bit later in the day than other hardies, but it is worth the extra couple of hours of waiting), and the foliage is stunning in its own right.  It is already blooming for us in our pond this year, and removing the eyes that are already forming on the rhizome seems to be helping us to keep it in check while giving us larger blooms.  Because it is a sport of ‘Joey Tomocik’, it remains to be seen how hardy it is in colder climates.  Joe is currently growing it at Denver Botanic Gardens, and many members of the Colorado Water Gardening Society will also be growing the plant this year – it will be interesting to see what their observations are.  Tim is also growing it at Longwood, and Missouri Botanic Gardens also has a plant.”

From Zac:

       There is some great news about Wanvisa, the 2010 Champion waterlily will available to many more than originally thought. The International Waterlily and Water Garden Society bought many of these amazing new waterlilies and have been selling it as a fundraiser.  Initial sales (October-February) were not what they expected and before any plants had been shipped they sold off a number of plants to wholesalers and collectors.

       Luckily for the budget wise, Wanvisa is one of the most rapid producers of new plants. One single rhizome can create 20 or more plants easily in a 5 month growing season. So with all the plants currently multiplying plus the ones the IWGS has not sold, the price  by spring of 2011 should have the prices down to about the same as almost every other hardy waterlily.  

       Funding has been a problem for the IWGS the past decade and the Certified Aquatic Plant of the Year was one idea for new revenue. The IWGS has yet to come up with a business plan that can support their efforts on a year by year basis. They have stopped charging members for annual dues but have yet to lay out a benefit to members other than a quartely Journal and Annual symposium. The speakers at the events are good and the 2010 Symposium was a hit at the International Waterlily Collection in San Angelo. The prior year in Chicago the number of waterlilies to be seen at the event was somewhat low. Once a fan of the IWGS I am hopeful for some internal changes in the organization which seems to lack an outlined focus or direction. The best sources for waterlily information currently remains Water Gardner’s International which has an extensive database however has had a recent short pause in update. The IWGS only remaining strength is in the Journal which continues to provide decent quarterly information.

       Koiphen, American Ponders, InternationalWaterlilyCollection.com , AboutTheLotus.com and Facebook are the only up to date and active goings on outside of regional pond societies. Has Facebook taken the position of the IWGS in social circles? Or has the IWGS lost all focus on its mission and plan for the future? In the coming weeks the society is going to “relaunch” or reboot its website but I have heard of no actual plan on it providing relevant material. We are sure the site navigation will be improved.

        If the 2011 Quindo symposium is a success the society will probably have turned a corner in its financial situation and if the website is improved with content and made interactive they can restore relevance to its brand. We look forward to seeing how the 2011 summer turns out.

       -Zac deGarmeaux

1. Do you have the right size container?A two gallon container is pretty standard for medium water gardens but most lilies would like more space. Hardy lilies like a lot of horizontal room, consider a 12-20″ across if you don’t want to re-pot them every year, it does not need to be deep, something the size of a sturdy dishpan is great or a black colored kitty litter pan will last a couple years. A tropical waterlily can enjoy a pot 3-20 gallons in size. Lots of soil and fertilizer to boot.  Let us take a look at a few plants,

a new variety available for the first time in 2011 is Ken Landon’s ‘Rhapsody In White” (video below) Tim Davis sent me a tuber last summer after I fell in love with it at the International Waterlily Collection and is now probably my favorite star waterlily (flavovirens hybrid). It is very cold tolerant, possibly more so than some viviparous tropical waterlilies and can survive winters with ice on the pond. Chocolate pads surround a bouquet of wonderful white flowers standing high above the surface. Six blooms per day is not uncommon and plant 2 or more in a large container and you can have over a dozen flowers each morning.

Click on Video below to Play in HD

2. During the growing season waterlilies need fertilizer (and please plant them in SOIL). Though you can plant these plants in kitty litter trays don’t buy overpriced cat litter sold as aquatic plant medium (black kitty litter trays are preferable but after 2 weeks any dark color will be hidden by the pond film). Real soil, a heavy clay/topsoil or loam is perfect (potting soil is light and will float, avoid that as it is disaster).  If you add a good fertilizer like Ken Landon’s waterlily fertilizer or osmocote 180 day granulars (or both) to the soil you may not have to fertilze again all season. In the south where growing season are longer you can start with granular and add pond tabs the second half of the season if your fertilizer begins to run out.

In June 2010 I visited Nelson’s Water Garden in Texas where you can see how big lilypads and flowers actually can get when you feed them, this is Foxfire which had been growing in the pond for a couple months. Mike Swize puts his hand on a pad to show the relationship in size. Note I also grew fozfire and kept with less fertilzier in a smaller pot can keept the plant blooming just as much but stays about 1/3rd the size of this giant.

Click on Video below to Play in HD

3. Sunshine and warm weather. Waterlilies actively grow when water temps are in the mid to high 60s and like lots of direct sunlight. Full shade is not helpful for blooming even on shade tolerant plants. Planting your plants when its still early is not great either. Cold water can make tropical waterlilies go to sleep. Just because it was 82 degrees yesterday does not make it good planting weather if the bottom of your pond is 55. You want low temps to be nothing below 55 or so for 2 weeks straight before getting the plants in the pond from actively growing in waters elsewhere. You can plant dormant plants in water as cool as 45 just dont expect them to grow much until warmer weather.

Here is a look at hardy Helvola after a few week in the sun in a 20″ wide container. Each flower is only about 2″ across as this is a hardy dwarf waterlily.

Click on Video below to Play in HD

All three of the waterlilies shown are available at www.PondMegastore.com

Here’s the official press release from Senator Hegar’s office:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2011

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
Lisa Craven (512) 463-0118

Hegar Rejects White List Proposal at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

State Senator says concept is unrealistic approach for Texas

Austin, Texas—Today, Texas State Senator Glenn Hegar called on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Executive Director, Carter Smith, to forego further work and cease implementation on the proposed aquatic plant species “white list” and the accompanying rules. Senator Hegar will sponsor a bill during the current legislative session that clarifies this request in statute.

“While I certainly think that a great deal of progress has been made, I am not confident that the arrived-upon proposal is enforceable or realistic for Texas. With the list and rules now complete, it is clear that approval of this measure would severely impact our state’s economy and the biofuel, nursery, and gardening industries across the state,” said Senator Hegar.

Through House Bill 3391 of the 81st Legislature, TPWD was directed to establish a “white list” of non-native aquatic plants approved for sale or possession in Texas. The process proved onerous as stakeholders continually came forth with new concerns and species not yet included. In September 2010, with the deadline fast approaching and the list not yet complete, Senator Hegar granted the Department a time extension in an effort to ensure that all necessary information was considered in the creation of the “white list.”

In his letter to TPWD requesting they forego further work on the “white list”, Hegar acknowledged the hard work and countless hours spent compiling a “white list” and commended the Department for their sincere and diligent collaboration with stakeholders throughout the process, but was clear that the project should be abandoned in the face of his and many others strong and decided view that it is simply not a viable solution.

“I don’t believe any of us understood the full scope and significant ramifications that adoption of a white list would present. It is my hope that we can continue to work toward a common-sense solution to prevent the introduction of invasive plants into Texas while still protecting the environment and economy of Texas,” Hegar said. “It is vital that we continue to make a proactive effort to ensure that the natural resources across this state are protected for generations to come.”

…Credit is due to many people but for us we want to send a special thank you to Mr. Rolf Nelson.

Species waterlilies are important as you cannot develop strong hybrids the further away from the species material that you have. You begin getting mutations and poor plant qualities. The IWC San Angelo as we always write about is home to the largest repository of species material in the world. Ken Landon has saved multiple species from extinction over the last few decades helping to release varieties back into the wild such as N. flavovirens in Mexico one of his personal favorites to use in crossing new hybrids.

Enjoy one of the few peeks of N. capensis var Zanzibariensis

Water Garden regulation is about to sweep the nation. Texas is finalizing the white list of approved Aquatic Plants. Soon all Taro (over 100 types of Elephant ears), Papyrus, Cattails, Creeping Jenny, and a number of other long time favorites of water gardens will be outlawed in Texas with fines of $2000 per incident.

New York, Maryland, and other states are already voicing that they intend to copy this new law prohibiting 100s of Aquatic Plants and destroying business. Why? Much of this has to do with boating. Hydrilla which travels from lake to lake on the bottom of unwashed boats is overtaking waterways. Giant salvinia can also travel like this. Both plants were restricted in Texas (a black list) which is fine. However the legislation passed in 2009 now states only studied and approved plants should be sold to the state. That leaves a very short list of plants to be sold. 

As this legislation comes to more and more states the water garden industry will shrink considerably. Also the aquarium trade will be hit as the list does not include 43 aquarium plants common within that trade.

Normally Texas is a pro-business state but this really puts a dent in that thinking. Again this legislation is being copied right now in at least 3 states that we know of and as most laws will continue spreading.

This will hurt both aquarium hobbyists, pet industry jobs, water garden installers, aquatic plant growers and customers and pond societies. Complaints have come in from Canada as to concerns that they will not be able to order plants from Texas in the future due to this regulation.

See two news articles below with comments from our friends Tim Davis, Brandon McLane, and Rolf Nelson.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/01/15/2771870/texas-plan-to-combat-invasive.html

http://www.petproductnews.com/headlines/2011/01/12/texas-updates-white-list-of-aquatic-plants.aspx

Pond Megastore and Champion Bay Aquatics will be adding Tanzanite and about 8 other waterlilies to a list close to 200 other water lilies this spring which are shipped wholesale grown / blooming size to Garden Centers and Landscapers all over the United States. 

Tanzanite was voted as the Best New Waterlily overall in 2009 and this is the first year of production. Developed by the McLane family at Florida Aquatic Nurseries in Florida they have worked quickly to build up supply and should have a good quantity at the beginning of the 2011 season. Tanzanite waterlily is the deepest purple on the market, very similar to the depth of  ’N. capensis var zanzibariensis forma purpurea’ in my opinion. 

Waterlily "Tanzanite" brand new, deep purple like no other on the market

This lily has slightly lower petal count than last years blockbuster hit “Ultra Violet“ which  I feel is still a superior waterlily though this is a close second in the purple waterlily category. From my two weeks this summer in San Angelo Texas (June & September) I did not notice the slight color change from day to day that Ultra Violet did seem to have. On hot sunny days I noticed Ultra Violet sometimes seemed to become almost a dark blue by the second or third day of full sun. If conditions were not completely sunny the flowers stayed purple all 3 days of each blossom. 

Ultra Violethas about 70 petals on adult flowers and Tanzanite about 50. The larger the plant the more petals so fertilizer and pot size is key to performance. The pads on the Ultra Violet changefrom red/green camouflage pattern to an almost full red during the summer which is a second benefit for a pond plant like no other. 

 Contact either customerservice@pondmegastore.com or info@championbayaquatics.com for prices lists and minimum order requirements. “Tanzanite“ is also now available direct to home purchase in the Annual Waterlilies listed on www.PondMegastore.com .

Below that I will post again the video with Tim Davis which has footage of the larger plants taken in September 2010 shortly prior to the Symposium and LilyFest. Ken’s video up first was taken in June 2010.

This makes interstate sales of plants more and more difficult. Most US growers of aquatics are quite responsible. There are a few who sell invasive species to states that have banned certain plants. There are also growers that are selling non-inspected plants and waterlilies from the asian-pacific region that may be bringing in pathogens, viral or fungal, as well as other pests attached to the plants. It is good to know exactly where your plants came from or are being grown. Many good honest growers can let you know where the plants are grown.

Shipping aquatic plants in soil to California should only be done with companies certified nematode free per law. Companies selling water hyacinths as “Blue Shellflower” are breaking the law sending the plants to CA, AZ, NM, AR, ID, TX, LA, SC, MS, the City of Chicago and should be reported to the USDA or state Agriculture Leader. If this practice can be stopped we can stop bans on all aquatics such as the proposed White List in Texas and now possibly NY and MD.

This week Los Angeles inspectors discovered a khapra beetle in dry rice (food) which is one of the 10 most dangerous non-established pests in the United States. Not a problem for aquatic garden industry person however we are are risk of introducing similar product when shipping in overseas and can quickly spread state to state before its ever noticed.

Most growers are honest and most inventory in US grown however it is always best to check especially when ordering online.

Some safe retail sellers include:

Online: PondMegastore.com, MarylandAquatics.com

Texas: Nelson’s Water Gardens

New York: Bergen Water Gardens

Virginia: Springdale Watergardens

Utah: Desert Water Gardens

Washington: Hughes Water Gardens

Canada: Burns Water Gardens

more can be found on the IWGS and WGI websites.  The IWGS website also lists all BANNED varieties/species by state updated often by Kelly Billing who keeps track for the industry.

If you have not heard, the Texas legislature passed a goofy if not terrible bill banning all aquatic plants (pond plants) not listed on a government approved “white list” beginning January 1st 2011. Passed in 2009 without much public knowledge in an effort to look “green” the consequences to the aquatic plant industry looked grim. Rolf Nelson of Nelson’s water Gardens in Katy Texas really took the lead in an effort to bring proper attention to the bad law that would possible ban all waterlilies, lotus, aquarium plants, and more.

The International Waterlily Collection in San Angelo may have to be scrapped due to this government intervention. Drew Darby who represents the San Angelo area in Texas going back to 2006 is now and has been for some months actively involved in trying to fix the legislation that gives Texas Parks and Wildlife control of something they know absolutely nothing about. Texas Parks have almost killed off the native Texas Waterlily Nymphaea elegans since taking over its care now found in only 2 bodies of water out of the original 17.

Special thank you from Ken Landon to Drew Darby and a new possible amendment.

I don’t have a video of the special thanks to Rolf Nelson but some real thanks is due to him. If your ever around Katy Texas outside Houston plesae look them up!

Tim Davis and Ken Landon speak briefly about this exciting new species.

Enjoy a first look at this species in High definition (enlarge to fullscreen if you can).

Tim Davis is a supporter of the International Waterlily Collection that makes many seven hour, week long pilgrimages from Houston Texas each year. It is clear that waterlilies are more than a full tim hobby for tim. He also runs the websites for the IWC and IWGS.

Ken explains that for hybridization you need species plants as eventually you run into crappy mutation or genetics just break down and you stop getting nice plants.

Ken still intends on traveling the world to grab some more species material like ‘burtii’ which was lost after Dr. George H Pring’s work with it.

Please watch the 4 part series in FULL SCREEN (720p High Definition) with sound on. Please if ever writiing about the technique be sure to give Mr. Landon credit for bringing this revelation to the public. Enjoy!

Part 1 of 5

Part 2 of 5

Part 3 of 5

Part 4 of 5

BONUS Question & Answer with Ken Landon (Part 5)

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