Longwood Gardens

Kennett Square, Pa

Water Lily Gardens

in the Conservatory


October 2, 2006

In an atrium of the Conservatory are several water lily ponds..

There was one type we found fascinating.  These pads are the leaves.  To get an idea of the size, notice the feet and legs of the people toward the top right.  

The pads are really leaves which are on long stems.  Notice the spiny one near the flower.  It is an immature leaf..  The white ball-like things are flower buds.

Today they were harvesting the seeds.
All the waterlilies are grown new each year from seed.  These things are amazingly fast growers!
The flowers are hand-pollinated and then wrapped in cheesecloth to prevent cross-pollination.
The seeds are ready today, and the gardeners wade into the ponds and cut off the spiny stems holding the seed pods.

The pods are opened and the seeds taken out.  The seeds are covered with a gelatinous substance that makes them float.  In nature, they would float downstream to  grow in an area away from the parent plant.  The seeds harvested today will be taken into the greenhouse to dry out.  In March, they will plant them in soil.  In June the plants will be ready to go out into the ponds for the new year.





There were lots of kids, and they enjoyed finding the goldfish.
 

Each flower was more dramatic than the one before.

The day was beautiful, and after 5 hours of wandering, we felt we had only scratched the surface.  We took many pictures, and we would be happy to share them.  Let me know if you want to see more!


e-mail Leslie here.

Here's a link to all the rest of the grandkids' pages.


This has been a spring and summer of getting around. 2005

You can see those pictures:
We're off to Maine for a week of pictures and lobster!  Day 5
The New York State Fair - lots of chickens and other animals.
A search for Rexford Falls and finding the Sherburne Historic District.
Antique Firetrucks in Liverpool.
Balloons at the Spiedie Fest.
A trip to Utica to see Munson-Williams-Proctor Museum and Fountain Elms
We rented a canoe at Nathaniel Cole Park.

A visit to Hanford Mills and the Lumberjack Show
Hancock Shaker Village.
A trip to Pixley Falls and Delta Lake.
We watched them set up the Big Top at the Circus
We went to the Utica Zoo
Then we went to the Syracuse Zoo
Wickwire House in Cortland
A trip to babysit the grandkids
A visit to Boston to see a Red Sox Game
Drive through Edmeston area to see the animals
Ithaca Herbert F. Johnson museum trip
Skaneateles
And there are lots of pictures of our trip out west.

2006
2006
 travel to Texas
Texas Day 1 San Antonio to Pearsall
Texas Day 2 Pearsall to Laredo
Texas Day 3 Laredo to Brownsville
Texas Day 4 South Padre Island

Texas Signs amused us
More signs.

Art Museum at Vassar



Old Stone Fort, Schoharie, NY
Cherry Valley, New York

Hot adventures
from other summers:

Chittenango Falls
Fort Stanwix
Carousels
Home

Other interests: 

Retirement
 

Leslie designed a webpage for:
Stride of Central New York




 Critters
Animals hummingbirds  2
robin baby

Gray Fox

Insects  - moth pictures - polyphemus

luna 
Hummingbird Moth  1  2
butterflies
Seasons 
Winter 
Spring
Summer
Fall
Storm

October Snow
Oxford 
Oxford House
Tree Disaster
In Autumn    Before/After Exterior

Cazenovia
Stone Quarry Hill Art Park  2

kids on the swing


 
Send comments, please.  We love to hear from folks.
 
Published  8/24/06
Photos by Leslie or David


 Send comments, please.  We love to hear from folks.