Seedlings and Prep Work

Our seedlings are off to a good start this year, though we are battling string algae in our propagation tubs. We have over a dozen Euryale seedlings started, most have two to three floating leaves and are growing steadily. Only three of our Victoria seeds have sprouted so far, a decline from years past. We have tried raising the water temperature to near 90 degrees F, but so far most have just slumbered away in their ziploc bags. Of the three that sprouted, two have three floating leaves and the other has two floating leaves. Volunteer Karen Webbink will be in this morning to help with our weekly fertilization and water changes. Also on the agenda for this spring is cleaning up the metal stands that are used to grow our waterlilies at the optimum depth in the ponds. Volunteers John Wyman and Jeff Prather were here at the Gardens yesterday to begin cleaning off any rust that had formed over the winter months. Next week they will begin to apply a fresh coat of black rustoleum to each stand to keep them sturdy for the summer growing season. The guys also did some clean up in the ponds and checked on our hardy waterlilies. We will begin dividing these in early April!

Signs of Spring

The sun is shining today and there are faint signs that spring is around the corner, despite the forecast for possible snow this Sunday. The Victoria seeds that arrived last week from Kit Knotts in Florida are beginning to sprout, which is always an indication that spring is not far off. We also have several Euryale seedlings that have produced their first floating leaves. One small problem was discovered yesterday - three of our four heaters for the water tanks holding our seedlings stopped working. Replacements are on the way, and hopefully will arrive before the temps dip back into the 20's overnight! Weekly fertilization of these seedlings will begin today, and I will post progress photos soon!

A Cold Day in February

19 Degrees - That is what the thermometer read when I pried open the door of my car to head for work at Duke Gardens this morning. What better day to begin a blog about watergardening here at our 55 acre botanical garden on Duke University's West Campus? The water may be frozen, but we are already gearing up for the busy season ahead of us. The first task of the season was accomplished yesterday with the help of Karen Webbink, a dedicated volunteer who helps us each year in the ponds. Karen arrived early in the morning to help with the cleaning of our two heated water tables in our propagation greenhouse. We also planted 25 newly sprouted Euryale ferox seedlings in small plastic cups filled with sand. As these produce their first leaves, we will begin to feed them with a special liquid fertilizer that will be injected into the sand around each plant. Coming up next week: the arrival of Victoria 'Longwood Hybrid', 'Adventure', and V. cruziana seeds from Kit Knotts in Cocoa Beach, FL!