Most of the colorful leaves have fallen, the mums and fall gardens have been pulled out to make way for bulb plantings and the aquatic pools in the Heritage Garden have all been drained at CBG.  We have already had some snow flurries; winter is indeed around the corner.  Last week I was able to capture one last waterlily before they were pulled out.  Goodbye to another beautiful growing season; we now will bundle up to capture the winter landscapes and seek the warmth of the greenhouses in search of new things to photograph. 

Waterlily A couple of weeks ago I was able to capture the fleeting beauty of the Longwood Victoria Waterlily, a special treat blooming in the Heritage Garden aquatic gardens. These waterlilies are particularly beautiful and interesting to observe. You have to watch carefully to catch the blooming of these jewels because they only last a couple of days.  On the day before the plant blooms, a bud rises out of the water. At sunset of the first night the flower opens to reveal its glowing white petals.  At this stage it is a female seeking to be pollinated.  The Victoria's strong fragrance and glowing petals attract pollen-covered beetles. The beetles stay in the flower all night to feast on its nectar and at dawn the flower closes trapping the beetles inside to pollinate the flower. The fragrance disappears and at dusk the flower opens and releases the beetles. The Victoria is now a male and is pink in color. After this second night of blooming, the flower sinks into the water, allowing the seeds to mature. The Victoria is distinguishable by its amazing leaf pads.  Each plant displays several large, round pads. The surface of the leaves are very delicate but the ribs and large thorns on the underside of the leaf help provide protection. I find these beautiful aquatic plants fascinating and watch them carefully late in the summer for blooms.

Victoria Waterlily