What a pretty mix of leaves, too, Jonna! You must have at least 4 different water lilies mixing it up in there.

Mine both died this year. I have no idea what happened either! I've bought new blue flag iris, pickerel weed, plus a lovely algae bloom, for lack of shade in the water, argh. The little water snowflake is blooming, too. It has to live in the top of the waterfall, or the fish absolutely devour it. Must be really delicious.

Only thing in my ponds blooming is the yellow water iris. I picked up a free kidney shaped preformed pond liner. Nice size not real big but it should fit nicely into one of my pond features. Just sitting out by the curb with a free sign on it.

Holly

The yellow flag iris are pretty. We recently had a waterliliy start flowering. They all seem to be late this year.

All the lilies in that end of my pond have jumped their pots or rooted from seedlings. I know I'll have to wade in there and clean it up one day but I can't find a good reason right now. The water stays clear, the lilies are doing well and I don't have to fertilize them like I do the ones in pots.

I love yellow flag. I finally destroyed all of mine a couple years ago, though, because it rapidly took over any space I put it in. One spring after hauling a three foot section out of the pond (that started off in a one gallon container the previous year) to hack off a small chunk to keep, I didn't put it back. It was just too much work. I guess there's a reason it's illegal to sell in my area. I'm still mourning the loss of those beautiful multi-hued leaves and cheery yellow flowers, I think. I will enjoy Holly's pictures instead. I picked up a few new types of water iris last year, but they haven't bloomed yet.

My hardy waterlilies were early this year, and have been blooming for a month already. I keep meaning to get out and take pictures of them. My tropicals are late, though. I think it's because it was so warm this spring that the hardies woke up early, but the real heat has mostly been absent, so the water temperatures haven't been there to really wake up the tropicals. I even noticed a lotus bud today.

And I'm right there with Jonna. I've got one section of pond in the big greenhouse where everything has climbed out of their pots, but it all looks so healthy and beautiful that I haven't been motivated enough to get in there and tear it all apart. I never knew that colocasias could grow in six inches of water until it fell in and rooted there.

If I had a different type of pond I probably wouldn't have it but it can't get anywhere in my concrete well. It does get huge and I usually toss half of it out every year but it sure does look pretty when it blooms.

These are my hardy water lilies. They always make me smile.

They are beautiful Jewell.

This is Foxfire, my favorite lily. It's about 4 or 5 years old now and I haven't been able to get it to tuber so I am afraid I will lose it one of these years. It blooms less and less and puts out fewer leaves than before.



My outside pond. We leave an emergency pump in it in the summer so we can pump it down in a monsoon rain. That's the orange tube.

Foxfire is an outstanding tropical, with its ampla background. I find myself pinning old tropical tubers down sideways, Ken Landon style, every second year or so, so that they form new roots and tubers. If I don't they tend to fade away in the greenhouse as they get older and longer. No idea if that's applicable to your beautiful tropical location, as it may just be an unidentified issue with my cultural practices.

I try to focus on viviparous types, which are hardier and easier for me to grow outside, but lilies like Foxfire often tempt me into growing more sensitive types.

Here is one of my hardy waterlily ponds today. It's quite a bit overgrown, and I haven't cleaned it out in a while. Actually, I haven't done anything for the plants or fish in it in the last year but keep the water topped up...

Gorgeous Paul. Are any of them fragrant? I have heard about some being fragrant, but have never had the opportunity to experience their fragrance. Mine are just starting. This year, they are very late for me.

I haven't noticed a fragrance with any of my hardies, though to be honest, I rarely notice the fragrance of my tropicals, either. I ought to look up my varieties and see if any of them are expected to have a fragrance.

This is 'Almost Black', I believe.

Jewell said:These are my hardy water lilies. They always make me smile.

I'm smiling right now, looking at them.
Any idea what variety they are?

Paul

Your photo reminds me of 'Black Princess' I have attached a picture of mine from last year, as she has not flowered yet this year for me. Do you think your's is a Black Princess?



Took some photos of what is blooming in my pond - I don't know the name of this hardy waterlily.




I planted Japanese Iris in my bogs. Truthfully, I was surprised to see them come back this year. I had read that they don't like to overwinter in any type of water, because the water will smother the roots in the winter. Don't know if that will happen in future winters.....

According to my records mine came from Texas Water Lilies in 2010 as 'Almost Black'. It cost twice as much as any other I ordered at that time, so I must have really wanted it.

I have a terrible time keeping track of the water lily plants once they've been in the water for a while--every kind of tag I've tried has worked itself out (possibly with the help of the fish). I just haven't been able to identify water lilies by looking at them, either, especially given the variability with temperature and maturity. I've taken to cataloging what I put into each pond instead. As long as I don't put two similar lilies in the same pond I can tell what each one is when it blooms. And really, why would I need two similarly blooming lilies in the same pond anyway?

Nice shot with the koi behind the iris. I had some Japanese iris from Aitken's for a while, but lost them one spring. I was keeping them wet during the growing season and leaving them mostly dry (outside) during the winter, but one year they just melted away before spring. Not sure what I did wrong, so I'm taking a break from them until I can come back with more knowledge and better observation.

Paul

I am thinking my Japanese Iris will probably just melt away at some point. Every Spring I see them flower, I am surprised. I had even thought about lowering the level of the pond water to just below the bogs in an effort to keep the JI's from drowning in the winter.

The only reason I know mine is a Black Princess is because I only have 2 really special waterlilies. The other specialty water lily is Peaches and Cream. I have other waterlilies, but do not know the names of any of them.

Pretty photo of the Iris.

Oh - by the way, I spent too much on the Black Princess as well. She was $39.99 at the time I bought her and the others' were $14.99.

Some of the hardy Waterlilies are blooming here, still waiting for the Apricot colored to show more than tons of leaves.
The white one is the largest.




Unfortunately our backyard is a bit of a zoo, so we have to keep the netting tightly anchored.
So far the Paradise Fish are happy, but I haven't seen any babies this year yet.

Gorgeous Ursula. Love the waterliles - especially the white one. It seems to have quite a few more petals than the others. Do you know the name of the white WL?

Carolyn, I went digging and found the sales slip:
The white one is Gonnere, the yellow is Joey Tomocik and the red one is Laydekeri Fulgens. Please scroll down to these three.
http://www.waterfordgardens.co...

This is now their second Summer in our pond and I probably should have divided them in the Spring.

Gorgeous, Ursula. I found some on your link that look like some of my NOIDs.