Saturday, December 5, 2015

Pond Plants


It's December without snow, my garden is brown with fallen leaves and dark grass. My four water lilies are in the deepest spot of the pond, there the water doesn't freeze during winter. Ten years ago when my new pond was empty I found the hardiest Nymphaea because I needed to keep in mind our cold winters.


Usually hardy nymphaea (Nymphaea spp.), or water lilies are aquatic perennials that grow in zones 4 through 10, my zone is 5a. As aquatic perennials, hardy water lilies have flowers that grow either float on the water surface or above the leaves on stiff stalks. My four water lilies are red, raspberry-like, pink and pure white colors. Their round green leaves grow up to 15 cm in diameter. Many insects love sitting on their leaves or flowers, flying above the water.


Before winter coming I tidied up old leaves and rubbish to keep the pond clean. Usually I cut all Nymphaea leaves and buds in the end of October. Now Nymphaea 'sleep' under an ice till spring.  


Looking at calm pond I recall bright, amazing water life with lilies, insects, birds and frogs.  
Do have a pond in your garden? Do you plan to have it?




31 comments:

  1. Beautiful variety of waterlilies you have in your pond Nadezda! I have only a very little water feature in my garden without waterlilies but I planted long ago a pink waterlily in the canal in front of our house which has grown very large and gives many flowers in summer.
    Wish you a nice weekend from Holland!
    Janneke

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    1. This was a good idea - to plant water lily in a canal. You have no problems because it's growing in a soil of a canal not in a basket as mine.
      Happy Sunday, Janneke!

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  2. Indeed wonderful photos! Your water lilies are so incredibly beautiful. Just look at those colours!
    I'm looking forward to your Christmas posts. Some of our favourite (Christmas) dishes originate from Russia.
    Have a lovely weekend!

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    1. I'm thinking about Christmas dishes as well, Sara. Therefore I attentively watched all dishes on your table :)
      Happy Sunday!

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  3. I wish I had a pond. I've dreamed about small water features but haven't done anything yet because I would have to throw all the plants away in the fall or try to figure out how to over winter them inside which is not an option. These are beautiful and I'm so glad you have an opportunity to over winter them outside. :-)

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    1. To maintain a garden pond, small or big, is big work, you're right Judy. Thank you!

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  4. Lovely pictures !! Your water lilies are so beautiful !!
    That's always nice to see your garden, Nadezda !
    Have a nice weekend :)

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  5. You have a beautiful selection of water lilies. I absolutely love them and have a white and a pink variety, like yours, mine are both hardy. Do yours also attract raccoons that love to eat the flower buds - it's a sad day when they do that. We are also missing snow this December and have our fingers crossed that we will get a blanket of white to coat the ground before December 25th.

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    1. Fortunately there are no raccoons here, Rosemary. But there are snails that love to eat flowers as well. I often check them having a scoop net in my hand. I do hope to see white Christmas too!

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous!!! I don't have a garden, Nadezda, because I live in an apartment, but I love to see your photos! Thank you so much for sharing.

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  7. Your water lilies are beautiful! I don't have a pond, but it's something I've always wanted. There is something so calming about a pond, and I love watching the dragonflies that are attracted to it.

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    1. You're right Rose, water is calming and I love to sit near the pond.

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  8. We used to have water lilies in our pond but they disappeared so I am so envious if yours.

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  9. Loved this post Nadezda as I have hopes of getting a pond in my new garden. There is an area where apparently there has been a pond sometime in the past, but it is filled with soil now so has to be emptied first. When the rest of the garden is sorted I will get on with it as I absolutely love waterlilies.

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    1. I'm sure you will have very nice pond, Helene.

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  10. Hello Dear Nadezda!
    Your lilies are very beautiful. I love these wonderful flowers.
    In your beautiful country winters are extremely cold.
    This year there is winter?
    Have a nice week
    Lucia

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    1. Lucja, I don't know where winter is this year :0)
      We have rainy and windy December without snow, as in your place.

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  11. I wish I did have a pond with such lovely waterlilies. I'd also love to have koi to watch. Perhaps someday!

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    1. I have no koi in my pond, Jennifer. What could I do with them when the ice cover the surface? I hope your wish come true one day!

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  12. Felicidades Nadezda, tu jardín es una maravilla está preciosos con esos nenufares. No tenemos jardín en primavera si el huerto ;))
    Buen fin de semana.
    Un beso.

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  13. I love to have a pond but my garden is not so big and i'm worried of mosquito too!

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    1. Here in North we have no this problem, Malar. The only dragonflies, frogs, beatles live in the pond water.

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  14. By the way the lilies look so beautiful!

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  15. Wonderful images of your beautiful water lilies make me feel warm in winter! I have a pond but no water lilies as the pond is fairly small. I love the sight and sounds of water in the garden!

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