I'm not certain what happened to Spring here but I think it may have been here but we missed it......yesterday little snow flakes were appearing and in a couple days its going to be in the 70s.  What's up with that???

But even though we're all anxious for the weather to turn nice so we can begin planting our flowers, vegetables gardens and clean our ponds, we have begun sending allot of nice plants to those who have the warm weather.  Lucky them! 

Dragonfly Aquatics has a couple new hardy water lilies to introduce.  Hidden Violet which is a very unusual waterlily.  Large red-violet flowers with pointed petals that catch the eye.  The leaves are a darker green which gives a nice contrast to the flowers.  It requires full sun as most of the red hardy waterlilies do and performs well. 

The other new water lily is Walter Pagels, a very creamy white hardy water lily with with a hint of pale pink.  This water lily is considered a medium hardy water lily and is an excellent choice for small to medium size ponds.  Unlike the red water lilies it will perform well in sun to part shade.  It also is one of the water lilies that will stay open later in the day for more enjoyment.

Resting on the pond waterlily

Its such a great life for the frogs....sitting on the lily pads basking in the sun. Could life be any better????  These pictures were shared by one of our customers who received these tadpoles in the spring and now they are frogs enjoying the life in their new home.  Thank you again for sharing your pictures.

Just another benefit that a pond can provide for our enjoyment and relaxation.  Plants, boulders or fallen logs provide good sunny resting areas for frogs, dragonflies or turtles to take a breather. 

 Now that winter is approaching another good idea for those having frogs in their ponds is to provide a hiding place for the winter.  If you need you can create an area for them by placing a container in your pond filled with sand.  This will give the frogs a place to bury themselves for the winter.  Make sure its deep enough so that if your pond freezes over it will be beneath the ice.  Always leave an open space in your pond to provide oxygen for your friends.

Albert Greenberg

So check this out.  This is the Albert Greenberg, tropical waterlily growing in my pond at home.  The first picture was taken late June and the other late July.  The same lily but notice the deeper color of the second one.  Both pictures were taken with the same camera, the same way.  The second picture was a deeper color of dark coral.  Its gorgeous!  The foliage on this lily is heavily mottled and gives a nice accent in the pond.  Plus an added bonus it also does well in partial shade which is unusual of most tropical waterlilies or waterlilies in general.  I normally pick this lily to display on a table in my house since it gives off such a nice fragrance.  I'll be sad to see fall which isn't far away. 

 

Albert Greenberg

As the weather warms up and we begin to assess what plants we want to add to our ponds this spring, make sure you check out your hardy water lilies to see if they are in need of re-potting. Adding Highland Rim Fertilizer tablets at this time is also a must do. Water lilies need to be fertilized every 4-6 weeks to ensure plenty of flowers this summer.

Dividing the water lilies and re-potting them in early spring will ensure a better performing water lily this summer. Several lilies in the same pot compete for available nutrients resulting in fewer flowers this summer.

Water lilies need to be planted in at least a 1 gallon planting container for best performance. The medium to large varieties should be potted in a 2 to 5 gallon planting container to reach maximum flowering and growing potential. Don't be fooled by purchasing a potted lily in a 4 inch pot and expect it to flourish in your pond. You will end up paying more for the lily, and will still need to purchase a larger container to re-pot the lily in.

Tropical lilies are usually treated as an annual. They will continue to grow and produce blooms until the temperatures fall below 60 degrees. If you choose to try over-wintering your tropical water lily, moving the potted plant into a greenhouse is the most successful. Another method is to re-pot the lily in a 6” pot and place the lily in at least a 20 gallon or larger aquarium. Keep the water temperature at 70-75 degrees. You will need a fluorescent grow light to provide 10 to 12 hours of artificial sunlight per day. Do not fertilize the lily at this time, as you will not want to encourage any new growth, simply keep the plant alive until temperatures are warm enough in the Spring to move the lily back outside to the pond.

There is one other option for you to try if you are determined to save your tropical lily for next season. Starving the plant in late summer (do not fertilize) will cause the lily to form tubers in the fall. Once the leaves have died off, remove the tuber that has formed under the crown. Wash it thoroughly and air-dry a few days. Remove any roots still attached, wash thoroughly again and place in a jar filled with distilled water or slightly moist sand. Store the container in a cool, dark place at approximately 50 to 60 degrees. Check regularly to make sure the sand is moist, or if storing in water, that the water has not turned foul or discolored. If it has, replace it with fresh distilled water.

See tropical waterlilies,waterlilies here.