News of Interest

Posted 01/27/10

Beginning with Good news. An Aquascape team is participating in some wonderful work abroad. Follow the link to their Blog and you can keep up with what is going on. http://aquascapecolombia.blogspot.com/.

Update January 28th 2010: 2500 gallons of clean water has been delivered to the Rose of Sharon School.

Learn more about the Aquascapes Foundation here.

Next we have more state aquatic plant restriction news. Texas we hope to know more about the potential white list or if that can be prevented. Both Warner and Paula are wonderful watchdogs, I got a note from Warner this morning.
From Paula, this ruling will prohibit the control/elimination of Nelumbo lutea in Minnesota
http://www.pineandlakes.com/stories/123009/sports_20091230052.shtml.

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“Iris Secret” Avoiding Spring Algae

Posted 01/26/10

by admin

I should start by saying that this works in properly maintained water gardens. If you refer to your water garden as fish pond or koi pond that is the first signal you might lean more on the fish and less on the garden. In the spring remember not to begin feeding your fish until your plants are well established. You can throw off the balanced ecosystem with a single feeding and can cause some damage to fish if its real early. After winter a fish’s stomach is a little fragile. It has not had a good amount of food in many months perhaps, floating pellets or other fish-foods can cause a fish’s stomach to swell and lead to bleeding & even death. You want to introduce feeding slowly (but that’s more for a blogging fish day, you want to know about the Iris’s secret to preventing the spring algae bloom. Iris are one of the first plants to come alive in the pond, perhaps the very first. This plant and Marsh marigolds can suck the excess nutrients out of the pond beginning around the time of the final few frosts. Having a few areas of iris can dramatically reduces nitrites in the water and begin the process of cleaning the pond months before hyacinths or other plants can begin filtering the water. Iris also add a nice spring flower when hardy lilies are just beginning to send up leaves. In the spring, if you have a few areas of established iris (Flag Iris, Japanese Iris, Louisiana Iris are all partially aquatic and can handle a couple inches of water), dont feed the fish, and do not have dead leaves and debris in the pond the chances of a spring algae bloom or green water are greatly reduced. A good water garden is a biologically correct water garden.

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Aquatic Lingo “true aquatic”

Posted 01/25/10

by admin

A question yesterday from Cathy of Houston Texas as to what a true aquatic was. As stated by the IWGS, “True aquatics grow either underwater – submersed, or partly underwater – emersed.” This would make of course waterlilies true aquatics, and you may think of submerged oxygenators as true aquatics, but not all (even some sold as aquarium plants are not true aquatics). Many submerged plants are grown above the water and cut or cultivated before adding below the surface. The 2008 trip to Florida Aquatic Nurseries showed several species growing totally out of the water. Some of these grow normally right at the surface and easily below (probably because plants growing just at or below the waters surface deal with high and low levels of water. Anacharis, Hornwort, Cabomba are all submersed plants. Red star ludwigia, Lemon Bacopa, Moneywort, Rotala, and many varieties found submerged in fish tanks are easily grown at or above the waters surface. It is also much easier to propagate these plants in this condition.

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Hibiscus Sunrise (Hibiscus acetosella ‘Sunrise’)

Posted 01/20/10

by admin

Available Spring 2010!

New for 2010! Buy this pond plant and others at Pond Megastore

Hibiscus Sunrise (Hibiscus acetosella ‘Sunrise’)

This bog plant was developed by Florida Aquatic Nurseries. A seedling of the Red Night Booming Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) Hibiscus ‘ Sunrise’ displays bright yellow flowers with a red throat that are open during the night and into the morning . The leaves are reddish green with pink backing and similar in shape to its parent. This plant resembles a Japanese maple in leaf shape and color, but has the added benefit of bright yellow flowers. Hibiscus ‘ Sunrise’ is an excellent tropical marginal for the North or can be a perennial in the South. This plant will thrive both in the water and out in the landscape, so don’t be afraid to try it in different places. Produced at Florida Aquatic Nurseries, 2010 is the first year that this plant is available. Hardy in Zones 7-11. Can grow 3-4 feet in 2 gallon containers and taller in larger containers.

Grow with roots at water surface in 2 gallon container with rich heavy soil. The marsh hibiscus is a perennial pond plant with:

A broad, round base.
Round stems with tiny hairs.

Hibiscus flowers bloom on the plant from late spring through early fall. Flowers are 6 to 8 inches in diameter and have: .

A brilliant yellow central stamen.
A deep pink to burgundy center.

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Old news is new again?

Posted 01/17/10

by admin

Tim Davis, who runs the International Waterlily Collection website and the IWGS.org site has added some great new additions for 2010 for the IWGS site. A step by step revamp of the International Waterlily and Water Garden Society is underway. Executive Director Larry Nau and fellow IWGS members are looking into getting permission from authors of the early IWGS Journals to issue the articles once again but this time for the IWGS website. They may need some help as to some of the early Journals and for what is not stored into the computers the process of retyping stories and articles will take some time. Images if permission is granted can also be scanned and stored. Larry is working on sending the table of contents to Tim right now and if you have some of the earlier Journals stay up to date as it is possible they may need your help.

As discussed in an online chat last night many articles are still of great use today.

As of Tuesday a new Aquatic Resources Directory was launched where more than just aquatic plant companies can be found. It is the hope of the IWGS that this can become a great resource for the 1500 unique water garden visitors each month to the website to become business traffic. Categories include Aquatic Plants, Koi & Pond Fish, Online E-tailers, Retail Stores, Manufacturers, Pond Supplies, and Lake and Pond Management. New ideas and listings are welcome. IWGS members depending on what level member you are may be entitled to free listings and non-iwgs members can partake in the directory as well.

On a lighter note, Paula Biles, notified the IWGS of some sad news last week, Fred McCorkle has passed away. Fred was an IWGS Journal editor during Paula’s tenure as Executive Director and also worked with her on local activities in Florida. To read more about Fred please follow the IWGS link here.

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Experts Grant Mitchell & Warner Orozco-Obando

Posted 01/10/10

by admin

2010 Eastern China Lotus Exploration

& Water Garden Tour

With Grant Mitchell and Warner Orozco-Obando

July 15-30 and Aug 3-17th 2010

Please contact if interested!

Day 1 : Arrive Guanzhou Bai Yun Airport transport to hotel

Day 2 : Day excursion to Lotus Mountain gardens. This garden is about 100 acres and includes many different parts. It overlooks the Pearl River estuary and is built around a 2,000 year old red sandstone quarry. This stone was only for use on the Emperors projects. In the old quarry there are high cliffs and ponds filled with lotus and waterlilies. On the top of the mountain is an old fort which controlled river traffic and a Buddhist complex with pagoda, huge traditional buildings and the biggest gilded bronze Guanyin in the world. There is also a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant.

Photos Courtesy of Grant Mitchell

Day 3 : Visit several gardens and parks in Guangzhou. There are several different parks and gardens to visit with water-plants, orchids and other trees and flowers. [Soft sleeper class is a wide berth with 2 upper and 2 lower bunks with a door. The cabin is air-conditioned and there is a western style toilet and washrooms at the end of the carriage. Soft sleeper class is close to the dining car]

Day 4 : Arrive in Fuyang. Afternoon visit to small lotus lake.

Day 5 : Visit an incredible private lotus garden with over 1500 varieties of lotus. Mostly medium sized lotus grown in pots. There are many unique lotus in this private collection and can only be visited on this tour. Afternoon train to Hefei.

Day 6: Visit Hefei lotus park. Check out the large lotus collection in this park setting. Afternoon bus to Pukou.

Photos Courtesy of Grant Mitchell

Day 7 : Tour of the famous Yileen Water-garden. This well known water garden of several acres is incredible. There are hundreds of varieties of lotus as well as waterlilies and other aquatic plants. Yileen is responsible for the creation of many wonderful new hybrids and is a regular prize winner at the annual China Lotus Association convention

Day 8: Bus to Hangzhou. Afternoon boat trip on the iconic West Lake. West Lake has been a famous beauty spot for hundreds of years. There is a classical Chinese saying…up above you have Heaven and below you have Suzhou and Hangzhou ! Every year the area around the lotus lined West Lake becomes more and more beautiful due to ongoing landscaping by the local government.

Day 9 : Visit the scenic sites of West Lake and Hangzhou Botanical Garden. There are many different parts of the West Lake area with many separate parks joined by a variety of bridges. There are towers, causeways and pagodas along the way. In the evenings locals gather at the lakeside and play traditional instruments and sing and dance as they have done for centuries. Evening spectacular buffet dinner and variety show.

Day 10 : Stroll around Lotus Swaying in the Breeze Park and the ancient Lin Ying Buddhist temple. Qu Yuan Feng He park was originally a brewery but has a history of several hundred years a park. There are bonsai and several small lakes with different varieties of lotus, waterlily and other waterplants with various bridges and lakeside pavilions, gardens and metasequoia forest.

Photo Courtesy Grant Mitchell

Lin Ying temple complex is set in a lush forest not far from the lake.It also has a long history and is one of the most famous temples in China. Night sleeper train to Unesco World Heritage Mountain Park

Day 11 : Rest in hotel then ride the cable car to the spectacular Heaven’s Gate mountain and Daoist temple and climb the stairs to Heaven’s Gate. This cable car ride travels several miles across the farmlands and foothills before a dramatic ascension to the mountain top. The views are incredible and the mountains are covered in a variety of trees, shrubs and other local flora. Another short trip brings you to a large Daoist temple and the walk back is on a pathway winding around the side of the mountain. On the return journey, a side trip in a bus takes you up a zig zag road to the base of Heaven’s Gate. A walk up the stairs takes you to a huge spectacular opening in the mountain.

Photos Courtesy Grant Mitchell

Day 12: Morning visit to huge private water-garden full of paddy fields full of exquisite lotus & waterlilies. Afternoon excursion to Yellow Dragon cave. This private water-garden was only opened in 2008 but has a fantastic collection of lotus and waterlilies mostly in large paddy fields. Yellow Dragon mountain is a fascinating cave system full of natures wonders. Outside the cave complex are some nice gardens and a collection of working wooden water wheels of various sizes.

Day 13: Cable-car up the Three Thousand Sister mountains and back down cruise along the trails in the ancient valley floor forest. This is a short but exciting trip to the top of a mesa of weathered quartzitic sandstone. A trail winds around the top in native forest of pine, magnolia, rhododendron and other flora giving spectacular view of 3,000 unique mountains and the valleys below. At the bottom is an ancient forest filled valley system to explore. Often monkeys can be seen. Soft sleeper train to Guangzhou

Day 14 : Arrive in Guangzhou then a short bus trip to three Waters. Afternoon visit to Three Waters park with a huge brass reclining Buddha, Tibetan temple and Daoist temple complex.

Day 15: Wake up in the Ever-profit Lotus Hotel. Spend the day in the amazing, Lotus World, the biggest water garden in the universe ! Absolutely stounding! Farewell dinner in the evening.

Day 16: Depart from Guangzhou Bai Yun Airport.

TOUR INCLUDES: local transportation, entrances to the parks and locations, accommodation and all the meals. Total cost: $3,500 American dollars

(airfare it is NOT included). Maximum of 9 people. For small groups that can not make it during this time, we can customized the dates.

Contact Us for Information on Joining the exploration July 15-31 2010, or Warner Orozco-Obando Auburn Lotus Research Project Department of Horticulture Auburn University.

UPDATE Jan 17th 2010. More new Photos added.

Again,

TOUR INCLUDES: local transportation, entrances to the parks and locations, accommodation and all the meals. Total cost: $3,500 American dollars

(airfare it is NOT included). Maximum of 9 people. For small groups that can not make it during this time, we can customized the dates.

Contact Us for Information on Joining the exploration July 15-31 2010, or Warner Orozco-Obando Auburn Lotus Research Project Department of Horticulture Auburn University.

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