NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
Withcut water lhes of some sort 
the modern garden can seareely be 
called complete, so potent is the in- 
definable but altogether delightful 
charm possessed by aquatic plants. 
Whether it is their suggestion of 
luxurious tropical climes, the deli- 
cate beauty of form and coloring 
embodied in their blossoms, or their 
delicious fragrance which most 
strongly appeals to the flower lover, 
it would be difficult to say. Itis a 
fact, however, that a lily pool, 
be it large or small, is a source 
of perpetual pleasure during 
the summer months, and fortu- 
nately aquatics are compara- 
tively easy of culture. 
The queen of all water lilies 
is undoubtedly the magnificent 
Victoria regia, which is a na- 
tive of the rivers and streams 
of Brazil. This wonderful plant - 
produces gigantic blossoms of 
unsurpassed splendor when lett 
unmolested in its South Ameri- 
can haunts, but it does not take 
kindly to our colder northern 
climate. It is a hopeless task 
to undertake growing this trop- 
ical beauty in an outdoor pool, 
for without artificial heat be- 
neath the tank it will seldom 
thrive. Furthermore, even 
under favorable circumstances 
it is a costly experiment which 
the amateur will do well to 
leave to a more experienced 
florist, while he devotes his own 
time and energies to the more 
hardy varieties of water lilies. 
Probably the most satisfactory 
plant, judging from its beauty and 
the facility with which 1 adapts it- 
self to varying climates and condi- 
tions, is the nymphaea, or floating 
pond lily, with which nearly every- 
one is familiar. <A native of the 
streams and lakes of the eastern 
half of the United States, the nym- 
phaea odorata, or common _ sweet 
seented white lily, is hardy and well 
adapted for water gardening. Once 
well established it will thrive almost 
anywhere and its fragrant blossoms 
and glossy pads are a constant de- 
hght to the eye from. June until 
September. 
Included among the hardy nym- 
phaeas are several varieties of color- 
ed lies which afford a charming con- 
trast when planted in combination 
with the white species. One of the 
very earliest kinds is the Marliacea 
Water Gardens 
By MARY H. NORTHEND 
rosea, a lovely rose-colored lily, 
which often makes its appearance 
long before the nymphaea odorata 
has begun to put forth buds. The 
Marliacea chromatella is among the 
most satisfactory of all yellow water 
lilies and is also an early and persis- 
tent bloomer. Both are strong grow- 
ers and as hardy as to require very 
little protection even during the cold 
winter months. Except in climates 
danger of a pond 
where there is 
freezing to the bottom, any of the 
nymphaeas named may be = safely 
left uncovered. North of New Jer- 
sey it is usually a wise precaution to 
drain the water from the lily pool 
in the autumn and cover the plants 
with a thick muleh of dry leaves or 
straw. Over all should be arranged 
a water-shed of boards to keep the 
basin dry and thus prevent the roots 
of the plants from freezing. If such 
a protection is afforded them umtil 
the frost is well out of the ground 
in the spring, nymphaeas may be 
grown in any part of the country 
with little danger of loss. 
Another lly which has been found 
admirably adapted for planting im 
America is the lotus, or nelumbium. 
From China and Japan this sacred 
flower, which is so inseparably inter- 
twined with the art and mythology 
of thé ancient Egyptians, is imported 
to this country to ornament the pools 
and water gardens of the well-to-do. 
Its beautiful blossoms of soft rose 
color are held well abéve the water 
and continue from July till October, 
adding much to the charm of any 
garden. Hardy and vigorous, the 
lotus thrives amid almost any sur- 
roundings, once it is thoroughly es- 
tablished. It can, however, be 
raised only from imported seeds, 
since for some unknown reason 
those produced by American 
grown plants lack fertility. 
In addition to the rose-col- 
ored exotic there is the native 
American lotus, which is somes 
times known as the water chin- 
quapin. Throughout July ano 
August this plant bears man- 
nificent pale. yellow blossoms, 
closely resembling the common 
white pond lily in form and 
varying from five to ten inches 
in diameter. Like the Egyp- 
tian lotus this variety is a rapid 
grower and throws out stocky 
horizontal rhizomes which have 
a tendency to cirele around the 
edge of a pool, crowding the 
nymphaeas and other floating 
lilies into the center and effec- 
tually concealing them from 
view by means of their tall foli- 
age. For this reason it is al- 
ways advisable to plant lotus 
in a pool by itself, or at least 
to take the precaution of wall- 
plants. " 
Among the more tender species of 
lily, nothing is lovelier than the 
Zanzibars. These are surprisingly 
easy of culture and their beauty am- 
ply eompensates one for the winter 
care which they require. 
doors after the frost comes. 
the first season and later dividing 
them as they mature. 
in this way the lilies can be readily 
lifted from the wate. in the autumn 
and removed to a warm cellar to be 
stored until spring. Zanzibariensis 
rosea is a pink lily of delicate color-_ 
ing and delightful fragrance, while 
ing off a portion of the pond — 
where it may grow without in- © 
WATER GARDEN AT MRS. DUDLEY PICKMAN’S terfering with other aquatic 
Since they — 
cannot be allowed to remain out of — 
it is® 
best to plant them in tubs, allowing ~ 
three or four plants to one tub fer © 
If arranged — 
Zanzibariensis azure produces mag- 
nificent syk-blue blossoms, Al- 
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