Text and photo courtesy Tamara Kilbane, Horticulturist Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Photo of last year's winning lily, 'Tanzanite' - a tropical hybridized by Florida Aquatic Nurseries. |
The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) has chosen Sarah P. Duke Gardens, in Durham, N.C., to be the growing site for the organization’s annual New Waterlily Competition, a contest that draws entries from skilled hybridizers around the world.
The purpose of this competition is to promote interest in hybridizing new colors, forms and sizes of both tropical and hardy waterlilies. In the past few years, several noteworthy new hybrids have been introduced as a result of the competition, including plants with unusual flower shapes and colors; new leaf patterns and colors; and new viviparous waterlilies.
These one-of-a-kind lilies will be on display in the Virtue Peace Pond at Duke Gardens from mid-June through September. Visitors are invited to see these new hybrids up close this summer and to choose their favorites as part of the third annual “People’s Choice Awards.” Votes can be cast in person using ballots or online at sarahpdukegardens.org.
A panel of IWGS judges will award prizes for the Best New Hardy Waterlily, Best New Tropical Waterlily and Best New Waterlily Overall in mid-August. Visit iwgs.org for the official judging results, and visit sarahpdukegardens.org in September for the results of the “People’s Choice Awards.”