Water lilies make any Water garden pond special.

I "discovered" a little book some years ago and bought it for the princely sum of R8.95 "on sale". It was called "Water Lilies and Pond Aquatics". Unfortunately there was no author nor publisher attached to the book and I therefore have no clue who the writer of the book was.

It is such a gem of a book in my humble opinion that I have taken the considerable trouble of re-publishing it ... In the hope I can find the real author

As a source of practical information that can be shared with true pond keeping enthusiasts

It also identified for me that there was a need for useful, low cost organized, uncomplicated reference information on aquatic plants. This prompted me to compile the pdf and Excel list of some 90 plants which some of you have already received. This list will be considerably enlarged enhanced with photographs and improved over the next number of weeks and will then be made available through my web sites and the Gazette.

This is a bit about what the author had to say about water lilies which he placed into his Type 1 (of 7 types) list ...

Type 1 water lilies and similar species root strongly into the mud at the bottom of the pond. They have long extending leaf stalks and leaves which float on the water. The flower is also above the water level. The genus Nymphaea includes all the water lilies in the world, distributed as they are in every country and continent except New Zealands.

Because colour is often the most important factor in our choice of which cultivar to use; lists are normally divided into groups of similar colours. Other relevant features are size, scent and water depth which suit the various varieties.

Nymphaea capensis is the blue water lily indigenous to South Africa. It has been used as parent in many fine tropical hybrids.

The hardy hybrid groups descend mainly from European and American parents such as Nymphaea alba odorata and Nymphaea tuberosa. Yellows and apricot colours owe their existence to the semi-tropical Nymphaea mexicana and other wild species. Their manner of growth is somewhat like an iris with thick rhizomes or tuberous rootstocks which creep 15cm or more annually across the mud on the pond floor. Allow for this when planting in a large pot or tub by placing the tuber right back against the edge with growing point inwards. Hardy plants should be at an angle; tropicals upright!.

Nymphaea react to depth of water, i.e. from crown to water surface. Each cultivar in the book is rated with an a, b or c to indicate the relative vigour. Some plants are strong growing and their surface cover is proportionately more. Obviously the less vigorous varieties cover less. The following divisions are used as a guide only as many will prove satisfactory in various depths of water other than that indicated.

• strong growing forms for water 30cm deep (about 1 foot)

• medium varieties 20cm-45cm (from about 8 inches to 18 inches)

• smaller kinds from 12cm-30cm ( about 5 inches to 1 foot)