124 The American Flower Garden 



But perhaps they enjoy a splashing bath on the lily pads even more. 

 From matins until evensong there is not an hour of the day when 

 you cannot enjoy the visits of robins, catbirds and thrushes that 

 are perhaps the most appreciative bathers among your many less 

 familiar and more shy bird neighbours to whom water is the 

 surest means of introduction. 



Where a single Indian lotus might lift its great round leaves 

 high above the water, catching the rain drops that roll about on 

 them like so many balls of quicksilver; where its big pink, pointed 

 buds might expand into golden-hearted flowers of Oriental splen 

 dour, and later, when the odd seed vessels might appear, I wonder 

 how any one could forego so much beauty, even if only a tub at 

 one s doorstep might be its humble habitation. 



WHAT ARE BEST OF THE TRUE WATER LILIES 



BRYDON S (Nymph&a James Brydon). Red. Strongest growing plant 

 among the hardy red water lilies. Day bloomer. Good for cut 

 flowers. Very early and floriferous. Sterile. 



CAPE COD LILY (N. odorata, var. rosea). Even pink. Flowers 3 

 to 7 inches. Opening 6 A.M., closing at noon, bursepals remain 

 open. Shy bloomer. Does not thrive south of Philadelphia. 

 2 to 4 feet of water. 



CHINESE PIGMY WATER LILY (N. tetragona). White. Smallest grow 

 ing hardy water lily. June, September. Opens noon, closes at 

 five o clock. Flowers 2 inches across, star-like. Leaves dark 

 green with dull red beneath. I to 3 feet of water. 



DAZZLING WHITE LILY (N. alba, var. candidissima). Snowy white. 

 Nearly odourless. June till frost. For depths 2 to 5 feet where 

 the common pond lily cannot grow. Exceedingly strong and 

 hardy. Day bloomer. Sterile. 



DEVON (N. Devoniensis). Red. Best night-blooming water lily of 

 its colour. Petals ovate 4 to 5 inches long. Not so expanded as 

 O Mara s. Very free blooming. Produces a number of lateral 

 crowns. A single plant may cover two hundred square feet. 



