Calm water has a healing effect on those that are near it. If only for a moment, peering into a water garden and glimpsing orange platy fish darting around in the dappled light, a dragonfly’s wings glinting in the sunlight, and a fragrant blossom opening to the warmth of the day, can emanate a life force energy that can make you forget about your worries.
Not only is this scene visually appealing and relaxing, the balanced ecosystem at work under the water’s calm surface, is bustling with life. The water is highly oxygenated from the underwater plant’s absorption of nutrients in exchange for oxygen, and the fish, snails, and water plants drifting and moving around throughout the day.
Placing your hands in this water is soothing and relaxing. We are exposing ourselves to beneficial microbes – those of a balanced ecosystem. Throughout human existence we have been working and playing alongside these delicate microbial systems which is perhaps why there is so much benefit to exposing ourselves to these water garden systems. Biophilia, the notion that our intimate relationship with the natural world is a way for our bodies to commune with beneficial microbes we have been exposed to throughout human existence, may be at play here. When you submerge your hands in the pond to prune your water lilies, you are dosing yourself with medicine akin to nature therapy, something that helps offset the stresses of living and working in modern contexts.
We see the benefit of these water gardens daily while customers wander through the nursery and comment on the contentedness and ease they feel. When they lean in to smell a water lily blossom, time feels plentiful, and the mind is free to be here now.
We would like to share this joy and awe with you by recommending two water garden plants and how to best grow them in your water garden.
Nymphaea Ruby
The Ruby water lily is true to her name: with 20-24 dark pink petals that are lighter at the base and slightly darker burgundy at the edge giving her a gem-like radiant glow. Hybridized by Bryne in 1998, Ruby has a deep emerald pad that really pops the color of the flower. Ruby is viviparous, meaning it makes new plants from a nodule on the middle of the pad, making it easy to grow and share with others. This lily is considered ‘low light’, needing at least 4 hours of full sun and will need repotting at least every 9-12 months. You can grow this lily in a container garden or ceramic pot easily as it is a medium to large lily, and will adapt to smaller containers well. Fertilize your Ruby lily once per month and you will enjoy its prolific blooms. Here on Kauai we see this lily bloom all 12 months of the year, and we even have one at an account that has been continuously blooming for over 20 years!
Ludwigia Sedioides (Mosaic Plant)
Otherwise known as the mosaic plant, this tropical floating plant is native to Brazil and Venezuela. It has rosettes that float to the surface resembling mosaics or mandalas Luckily, here on Kauai, we can grow it out beautifully with enough daily sun, however, it does have a dormant phase for three months over the winter. At night, the rosettes close-up, creating funnels. It has a small yellow flower that attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Normally, this plant is known to thrive in calm waters, but we have found it to do just fine in flowing water or gentle fountains settings, making it very adaptive. This plant intersperses with the water lily pads beautifully and makes a stunning complimentary surface plant, creating needed shade and habitat for the ecosystem.
Come and see for yourself the magic of the water gardens and let us help you set up your skillfully balanced ecosystem that will inspire you to slow down and smell the lilies.
To help you get started we are offering two upcoming classes taught by Ken Bernard:
Water Lily 101: Saturday, September 4 at 10:00 am-noon
Secrets of Water Gardening: Saturday, September 11 at 10:00 am – noon
Seating is limited so don’t hesitate to register here.
We are located in Kilauea, next to the Kauai Mini Golf and are open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Give us a call at 808-828-6400.
