Waterlilies Sparkle in the Sun at Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens flaunts the bold drama of the tropics in summer when blooming waterlilies turn the reflecting pools into spectacular exotica.

These tropical beauties were located in the middle of the different conservatories and greenhouses in Longwood Garden, in a courtyard that displays a wide variety of waterlilies and other aquatic plants from all over the world.  They had 5 large pools that were filled with different types of waterlilies and lotus that were in full bloom.

The different colors of these waterlilies was incredible ranging from purple, to magenta, to pink and white. Giant Victoria waterlilies, with leaf spans of up to six feet, highlight the displays, which include hundreds of other aquatic plants in the pools.  The waterlilies bloom from July through October, depending on the weather.

Many of the giant waterlilies were the “Longwood Hybrid,” a cross between the Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana  The “Longwood Hybrid” combines many of the great attributes of the two species.

Victorias are natives of Brazil, Guyana, and Bolivia. They were named in honor of Queen Victoria by British explorer Sir Robert Schomburgk,who first sighted them in 1837. 

Summer is the prime viewing time. The best hours are mid-morning or late afternoon, when daytime blooms are opening and night bloomers close and vs versa.  Day bloomers cover the color spectrum, and night bloomers are white, pink and red – the only colors that can be seen by night-flying insects

The pool water is dyed black to provide reflection, mask any debris on the bottom, block the rays of the sun to reduce algae production, and showcase the beauty of the flowers. These colorful summer displays, included pansies, begonias and tropical plants, which accented the tranquil reflecting pools.

The variety of the summer waterlilies at Longwood never fails to impress