We are offering a few new plants this year and one is the Water Willow (Justicia Americana).  This hardy bog plant has flowers that resemble an orchid white with splashes of lavender and purple.  The flowers grow in a dense, head-like cluster originating from its slender stalks.

The plant will grow 12 inches to 18 inches high and about 12 inches wide with flowers that start blooming in April and will continue to bloom thru October.    It requires part shade to full sun and best when planted 0 - 4" below the water surface but will take up to 2' of water.   While it will grow in almost any type of soil its best grown in sandy, sandy loam medium loam and clay loam or clay.

Hardy Zones 4-11 (Can overwinter in pond and doesn't need submerged)

 

This has been a hot summer so far. Its important if you have fish in your pond that you make sure the water isn't too warm for them. As your water evaporates replenish with cool water. Your fish will be happy!

The tropical waterlilies sure are blooming up a storm in my pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Albert Greenberg's colors are outstanding this year as are the other waterlilies. I'm not certain if its the hot summer days or just that all the pond plants are happy this year. These were all new plants this year since we just redid our pond so other than the initial fertilizing when I planted them, the first part of June, they haven't been fertilized since. I best get to that so I get as many flowers as possible before summer is over. I know tropical waterlilies last only during the summer but I seem to enjoy them more than the hardy waterlilies because of their colors.

 

 

Well our busy season is upon us and we're excited about the plants we're sending.  We have several new pond plants this year.  A couple new lotus, waterlilies and bog plants.  Check them out at our store, www.dragonflyaquatics.com. 

I often get questions about whether to use water lettuce or water hyacinths as floaters in the pond.  They both basically serve the same purpose. 

Water lettuce  (Pistia stratiotes) has light green spongy leaves that looked as if they have veins running through them.   The leaves are approximately 1-5" wide.   The leaves are covered with tiny hairs and occasionally tiny white flowers appear in the center.  Water lettuce prefers partial shade during the hotest part of the day and once the water warms up will multiply quickly.  Their dangling roots provide a place for fish to hid.  Water lettuce can be very aggressive and can deplete the oxygen in the water if you let it take over your entire pond.  So its a good idea to take out some if they start to multiply rapidly.  Water temperature should be 60 - 65 degrees before placing water lettuce in your pond as it will turn the leaves white and they will die. 

 Water Hyacinth - Eichornia crassipes) A floating plant that is a fast grower and beneficial for water filtration.  They have bright green rounded leaves and will get a purple flower on them throughout the season.  Water hyacinth have dangling roots that help filter and clean the water.  We have alot of customers who ordered water hyacinths first in the spring to provide shade immediately to help prevent growth of algae.  It takes other plants such as water lilies longer to produce their leaves to help provide the coverage needed.  When you first receive your water hyacinths you want to put them in shade for a day before adding them to your pond in direct sun or the leaves will turn brown.  They need to soak water up in their leaves.  Again make sure your water temperatures are 60 - 65 degrees before placing in your pond.

Its ice everywhere.....but at least its February so its almost over.   I will say its a pretty site but I still prefer the green color over the white!  I look outside and imagine pictures like this...

 

 

The plants continue to grow nicely in the greenhouses and while standing in there you almost can forget what's going on outside.  Call it an escape from reality.  The marsh marigolds are starting to bloom alot and I must say they are really nice plants this year.

The snow storm isn't over yet so we are all in a holding pattern....waiting on the next blast to come through.  Whether it will be ice or snow remains yet to be determined.  So I will continue to think of all the plants growing and start to update our store to share the plants with you that we will be offering this year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 New this year for Dragonfly Aquatics and will be added to our store.

A floating, rootless aquatic fern that floats just below the water surface producing a pair of floating or emergent leaves that are green in color and oblong in shape. They have a third leaf that is brown in color and dangles underwater sometimes mistaken as a root but helps to stabilize the plant.  The plant itself has no roots but tiny white hairs beneath the leaves. 

 

 

Well the holidays are over, the tree is down and all the holiday christmas decorations are put away.  I could probably leave my christmas tree up for months as I always miss it once its put away.  Its hard to imagine the room is exactly like it was a month ago because it looks so bare now. With that behind I start thinking that in just a few months it will be spring again.  My how time flies.  The plants are all beginning to grow nicely in the greenhouses and within a couple months will be ready to plant.  

No sooner said then the snow began...let's hope February is a quick month and we can all get started on our spring projects and planning our gardens.  Actually January is a good month to start ordering some plants for your gardens, at least I'm getting alot of plant magazines in the mail.  So its getting me in the mood.

One of our most popular bog plants is the Dwarf Papyrus.  I think its an unusual looking plant and adds alot of dimension to the pond.  It always seems to grow well and is one pond plant that is easy to grow and attend to.  The Dwarf Papyrus is a good bog plant to create a tub garden or tabletop pond.  I have one growing in a ceramic pot on my patio and it does well. 

The papyrus grows in sun to part shade and likes moist soil and can tolerate water up to 4 inches deep.  Its considered hardy Zones 8-11 but can easily be wintered over indoors.  As long as you keep the plant in 50 degrees and above it will be fine.  You may watch for mealybugs as they will sometimes appear on the plant during the winter but can easily be treated. 

They grow 12-18 inches high with a spread of 6-12 inches.  To start other plants take the seeds and put in wet soil or propagate from the viviparous top fronds.  You'll soon have other plants to place in your pond. 

If you like larger plants you can go for the Dwarf Giant Papyrus (Cyperus percamenthus) which will grow about 3 feet high.  There is also the Egyptian Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) which can grow to 8 feet high. 

Whichever Papyrus you chose it is a unique pond plant for your pond.

I wish it would rain, we need it.  This is the Rain Lily that finally decided to start showing off its stuff.  They say they bloom alot after a rain but seeing rain isn't in the forecast for awhile I can't say if it will bloom more then or not.

 

These Rain Lilies are such a brilliant white, almost translucent.  They make a nice plant for the edge of your pond or in a bog area.  I have mine placed near the waterfall close to the edge in a shallow area.  Again this is one plant that doesn't want much water, just keep the roots wet.  Its hardy to Zone 7.  They prefer full sun but I have mine in more shade and it seems to being doing great.  It probably gets about 2 hours of the morning sun.

Remember the large lotus bud well it finally revealed itself today.....its a Red Scarf. 

So as I'm enjoying the lotus from my kitchen window I managed to get my tomato juice and salsa canned.  At least I'm finished until the next pickin....

Enjoy your pond....season almost over.

This is the Cardinal Flower I brought home from the greenhouse this spring and wondered at the time if it would straighten up.  The Cardinal Flowers were all nice plants this year but some were growing slanted in their containers.  The one I had planted a couple years ago didn't survive.  Now I know we say "Don't Drown those bog plants" so I should know better.  But too much water did it in, so I tried another.  This year I'm glad to report it bloomed and flourished.  It didn't straighten up until it started to bloom.  I transplanted it after several weeks from its pot directly into my bog area and hoped that it wasn't too late to prevent it from blooming.  I had wanted to give it some time to adjust to the water depth before I planted it directly in the pond but then I just got too busy to plant it.      Look how gorgeous the flowers are.  I think its a winner!

Not only did it get one flower but I have several more getting ready to bloom.  Now that its established it will spread to even a healthlier plant by next year.  At least that's my hope.

There are iris of almost any color one would want.....of course I want to plant them all around the pond.  Although they only bloom once during the season I anxiously await their blooms.  The Colorific is exactly like its name...blending of colors and quite unique.  This plant only had about three flowers on it this year since it was just planted but next year will have more. 

Then there is the Clyde Redmond which blooms a little later in the season. Its nice to have different iris blooming at different times of the season. The Wedgwood blue color of this iris adds alot to the pond.

Other than dividing the iris in the early spring they require little care and the rewards of color in your pond are worth it.