Landon Fest

         For myself, the most anticipated event in years will occur in 2010. I would like to tell you there are many hero’s of waterlily history but the numbers of the past are quite few. There are a few people today that have an incredible collection of nymphaea (waterlily) history and have worked for years to save, cultivate, and explore the world for specimens of original nymphaea. In 2008 I met Brad McLane who himself told me his history of collecting species from botanical gardens and collections around the world thirty years ago. Next year in San Angelo Texas I look forward to meeting Ken Landon who has traveled the world and collected what in now many cases is the last of waterlilies.

         There are a collection of great reads on Ken Landon’s superhero history available, I can at this time only repeat some of the vast number of articles collected from Water Gardeners International, Darren Bayhi’s info on the Austin Pond Society, and a collection of posts including the International Waterlily and Water Garden Society.

         Ken’s international waterlily collection in San Angelo has provided Egypt with seeds to repopulate the Nile River with  the thought to be extinct, Sacred Lotus of the Nile. Mexico thought the Star of Mexico had become extinct in the 1070s, Ken traveled to an uncharted area and found the plant and saved it from extinction. In Madagascar Ken discovered a tropical dwarf lily, Nymphaea minuta,which does surprisingly well in shade. Ken’s collection includes what possibly  the last, or one of the last Zanzibar’s, now extinct in the wild. This is just a touch of what Ken has done and if you would like to know more please search for him on the detailed history in the online sites I mentioned. Next year Ken and hopefully a large collection of the worlds aquatic hero’s will gather for the most extensive celebration ever of the waterlily. Just this Week Ken received news of a unanimous city council approval for a 10 year extended contract on maintaining and improving the park. LilyFest, or LandonFest as you could call it will be celebrated in conjunction with the IWGS symposium in Sept 2010. Visit the IWGS.org site for updates and details. At lily fest you will be able to meet Ken Landon in person as well as the staff and volunteers that help maintain the pools. Ken has quite a worldwide following and one of the best reputations as an international plant ambassador.