Water lilies excellent for garden ponds

Ponds have always been fascinating to me. Perhaps it was growing up in the desert, or because chasing frogs and tadpoles or trying to catch minnows was a fun pastime for little boys on hot summer days.

Regardless of the reason I am still drawn to ponds.

For me, the most interesting and enjoyable ponds recreate an ecosystem. Thundering torrents of water, dancing fountains and geyser-like water features shooting sprays high into the air never have the same fascination of those that combine water, animal life and plants.

Plants are the focus here. Aquatic plants are divided into four groups. Each have their use depending on your pond, your management style and the surrounding area of your pond.

The four types are deep water plants, bog plants that grow around the margins of the pond, oxygenators and floating plants. Creating the right mix of these plants establishes an ecosystem that allows them to grow while keeping undesirable plants from taking over.

While each pond requires tweaking to fine tune the ecology, plan on covering 60 percent to 70 percent of the pond surface with container plants with floating foliage, including water lilies or floating plants such as water hyacinth. Add submerged or oxygenating plants at the rate of one to two bunches per square yard of your pond surface area.

Since they are blooming in abundance right now, consider water lilies. In my mind, these are probably the best-known and most appreciated water plants. They are dependable performers, and there are native water lilies that thrive in high mountain lakes that survive winter.

As you select your lilies, make cold hardiness your first criterion. These beautiful flowers are divided into hardy types and tropical types. As you might expect, the tropical types must be brought indoors for the winter.

Make certain to get varieties that are going to thrive with our short growing season and cool, alkaline waters. Local suppliers and pond gardeners can help you find those that are good performers here. All hardy water lilies will survive our winters if they do not freeze solid.

Water lilies need full sun and relatively shallow water. Plant them in a group to concentrate the foliage and the blooms. For maximum growth and blossom production, place the crown of the lily 8 to12 inches below the water. They might have to be set lower in the winter for the roots to remain in unfrozen water.