I had the good fortune of spending a majority of my childhood in the forest. My mother was an avid gardener. We lived at the edge of a reservoir that supplied water to Baltimore City. That meant we had miles of fire trails to follow and discover. Childhood Wonders There were castle ruins that had …
Homeowners Personalize Their Spaces in the Planting Phase Plants, both terrestrial and aquatic, are a huge part of naturalizing a newly constructed water feature. Not only do plants help soften up the hardscape, but they also help tie everything together. After the chaos of the construction phase has come to an end, and the machine …
The International Water Gardening Society (IWGS) New Waterlily Competition enjoyed a special year in 2022. It marked the 25th anniversary of the first competition, which was held in 1997 at Denver Botanic Gardens. We had the unique opportunity to celebrate this momentous occasion during this year’s IWGS symposium held at the competition’s current host site, …
by John Mark Courtney & Victoria Holderer, Kind Earth Growers Nothing quite compares to the tranquility of sitting next to a pond with a hot cup of coffee at sunrise. Listening, you can hear some groggy frogs croaking their last calls of a long night and a cheery good-morning whistle from a male cardinal perched …
Increase Pollinator and Wildlife Diversity With Native Plants Read More »
When I began my career more than 35 years ago, little information existed about most things aquatic compared to today. Instead of being just a click away, information about individual plants was typically provided via a photocopy through the mail. I would send a check to cover the cost (about 7 to 10 cents per …
The 2021 International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) once again held its New Waterlily Competition at Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Florida. This year, we expanded our maximum number of entries from 25 to 30, allowing more hybridizers from around the world the opportunity to submit their best new waterlilies for evaluation. The IWGS …
The 2022 International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) Symposium is coming back as a live, in-person event from Aug. 24 – 28 in Naples, Florida. This is a special symposium, as we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the New Waterlily Competition. The three-day event features educational seminars, guided tours of the Naples Botanic …
As the horticulturist who cares for the aquatic plants here at Denver Botanic Gardens, I am lucky to have a large variety of ponds to work in. More than half a million gallons of water recirculate through the main waterway at DBG, connecting a wide array of terrestrial gardens throughout our 24-acre property. In addition, …
Aquatic Plant Design on Display at Denver Botanic Gardens Read More »
New water features are exciting and always enhance a property — but the gardens that accompany them are often the real show-stoppers that can put the entire scene over the top! Start with the consideration of vertical elements. Would a deciduous tree (or several of them) be desirable to provide shade, shelter and nesting sites …
This year’s submissions were presented blindly to a panel of seven industry experts to determine winners and runners-up in five categories (Best Pondless, Most Naturalistic, Best Under $15k, Ponds by Night, and Fountains & Formal Features). In order to be considered eligible, projects must have been completed between Nov. 1, 2019 and Nov. 1, 2020. …
Meet the Judges of the Fifth Supreme Stream Court Read More »