Archive for June, 2009

Rembrandt Water Lily: our second (and third) blooms

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Rembrandt Water Lily in bloom

Rembrandt Water Lily in bloom

Our Rose Arrey Water Lily beat it by two days, but the Rembrandt Water Lily made up for its tardiness by producing two blooms at once. We’ve now got three water lilies in full blooms, and dozens of flower buds that will begin to flower in the next few days and weeks. It’s looks like it will be a great year for water lily blossoms here. Can’t wait!

Rembrandt is an easy water lily, making it a great choice for just about any pond. The outer petals are a delicate pink while the inner petals turn a deep crimsom (easier to see in this photograph). Not only is the Rembrandt Water Lily attractive and forgiving, it is also one of the few water lilies that will flower in part shade.  If your pond — like ours — is surrounded by trees, Rembrandt might be a good choice.

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Yellow iris in full bloom!

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
Yellow Iris in bloom

Yellow Iris in bloom

Yellow Iris is usually a summertime bloomer, but we have one clump that has been blooming for almost two weeks already. Not really sure why, but these yellow iris is just really enthusiastic this year. It’s been especially hot and wet, so possibly everything will bloom early for us this season?

We have clumps of iris scattered in and around our ponds, but this particular plant is growing in our shallow artificial stream. The stream is only a few inches deep, and freezes solid every winter. This iris must be tough as nails, because it returns bigger and better every spring. This plant — along with a healthy clump of lizard tail and cattail — doesn’t seem to mind when it’s roots freeze solid.

None of our other iris plants have begun to bloom yet, so we could be looking at an especially long flower season for iris this year. Nice!

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Rose Arrey: Our first water lily bloom of the season

Monday, June 1st, 2009
rose arrey water lily

rose arrey water lily

The first day of June, and we are celebrating our first water lily blossom of the season. Our little display pond has more than a dozen water lilies, and Rose Arrey beat all the others to claim the first blossom for 2009.

It looks like our second, third and fourth blooms won’t be far behind — there are an awful lot of flower buds floating just below the water surface.

Rose Arrey is one of our favorite water lilies. Not only is it an early bloomer, but it is extremely adaptable. This tough little water lily does fine in shallow water, but will still blooms in when planted in water that is five feet deep. Maybe deeper too?

As an added bonus, Rose Arrey is one of the few hardy water lilies with a noticeable fragrance. What’s not to like?

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