my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

thought I'd share a picture or two. Thanks for indulging me!
The lotus is really a light yellow color, I need a new camera. The victoria has leaves now of about 24" across. I wasn't able to put it in the pond until the end of June though. We've had such cool and rainy weather!

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

Wow! :goteam:

I only ever saw a Victoria in a hortus botanica! I didn't even know you could obtain a plant like that. It's gorgeous!

Have you tried yet how much weight those leaves can bear? It's said that at full size, it can support the weight of a small child...

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

You know they're so thorny on the bottom of the leaves that I was afraid to put my daughter on top when she was small enough.Now she's 12 and 90 lbs so I think that's out. I'm going to put the cat on there this summer and take a picture though.
I do know when I'm out there fertilizing my other water plants, they're handy to sit the bucket of fertilizer tabs on top of. Kind of a floating table!

I grow victorias each year and sell plants of the longwood hybrid that I grow from certified seeds. I never know how many will sprout from the seeds I receive. This year was excellent 40/50. Last year I only had 18 for sale. So I do a waiting list, I already have one name for 2009.

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

That is so beautiful!! I wish we didn't have to use our pond as a stock pond. We've talked about it but in the end it's me that lets it continue as I would feel horrible for the cows to see the pond but not be able to get in when it's hot.

I love looking at your pictures!

Deb

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

Lol! I could just about picture your cat's expression on having to pose for that picture! Are you going to make it worth his/her while?) The picture would be a treat though.

I visited your website and read about your Victoria collection, didn't even know there were different varieties available. Alas, I have a courtyard with not enough space for a large pond - sigh - but maybe some day. But in any case, kudos to you for finding and growing a plant like that! It definitely speaks to the imagination.

The thing that I am planning to do is to start a collection of different garden pots filled with water and different kinds of water lilies in them. I heard about how they do this in temples in Thailand, thought it would make a nice authentic exotic feature. I already have one pot like that going with a regular water lily. Maybe try a lotus in the next one...

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

Yeah I wondered about the cat posing also. :ha::ha::ha:

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

We had him in the swimming pool on a boogie board the other day. He really didn't seem to mind it much at all. So I guess he's in training!

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

not all cats hate water. i have one that likes to play in the tolite, sad to say but true. i love looking at sandys pics.

Re: my lotus and victoria today 7/11
 

Your lotus looks like an American native lotus. Its lovely. Those grow wild here and put on quite a show. Is that an Arc en Ciel hardy water lily I see next to the Victoria, or perhaps a Pamela tropical?