Thursday, July 2, 2009

Contest Waterlilies Ready for their Close-Ups

Today was another busy day in the water gardens! The morning began with the first in a series of free waterlily walks that will be offered throughout the summer months. Our hour-long stroll around the Gardens included visits to the Virtue Peace Pond behind the Doris Duke Visitor's Center, the newly constructed bog garden below this pond, the Fish Pool at the base of the Historic Terraces, and the reflection pool in the South Lawn. Topics discussed included waterlily growing tips, the importance of wetland plants and bogs as filtration systems in natural environments, entries into the IWGS New Waterlily Contest, and the impressive characteristics of the tropical night-blooming Victoria water platters. To find out more about future waterlily walks, visit our website. Also new this week: the public voting for the IWGS New Waterlily Contest began on our website at http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/waterlilies2009.htm. Votes can be cast online now, or in person at the Fish Pool beginning next week. Don't miss the chance to see these colorful new hybrids for yourself!