Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
PLANTS OF THE WATER.
Some Of the Beautiful Things That Can He
Grown in Pond.

ssWATER GARDENING IS A NEG
w lected art" said a horticulturist to a
STAR reporter. 1T is not uncommon to find
artificial lakes in parks and pleasure grounds
wholly destitute Of vegetation. This seems .
grea. pity, in view Of the immense variety Of
beautiful aquatic plants which can be SO
readily cultivated in any pond Any water
surface in . landscape IL rendered much more
interesting by green and towering srowths,
and to leave such an aqueous area bare is like
permitting field to so untitled that might BE-
easily made to bloom with loneliness.
mo flower in the garden border can excel,
either in beauty Of form or In delicacy of fra
GRANGE, the white water lily or surpass the
'Nelumbium luteum,' with its large. cup-shaped,
yellowish flowers. projected out Of the water on
tall stalks. The less snowy blossoms of the
yellow pond lily, in combination with the great
spread OF the big-leaved Nelumbium, produce
an effect equal TO the best efforts o; the artist
in that popular formation of foliage plants
known as carpet bedding
WATER GARDENING.
''You can find in the grounds Of the Depart
n,ent Of Agriculture a pond that illustrates
very prettily the possibilities Of water garden
ing. In addition to water lilies OF different
varIeAes many interesting species of plants
have been introduced there. A while ago sew
eral of the curious horned seeds of the
.Irapa natans' were thrown in, and in
due time the small triangular shaped
leaves made their appearance on the
surface, neatly arranged in roseste form.
The duck weed. thrown into q sheltered cove,
speedily covered the surface with its diminu-
tive greenery. In deeper water eel grasses
were planted, and in shallow recesses various
other species. tropical and otherwise, spread
rapidly during the summer, producing an
abundance of flowers. On the little promi-
nences jutting out into the lake tall, weedy
plants have been disposed, while smaller
growths fringe the margin.
"A small island was formed. its surface be-
ing raised about six inches above the water
level, and upon 1t low-growing bog plants were
put, among them the pitcher plant, horse tail
grasses and similar species from woody swamps
and wet meadows. The effective arrangement
OF water and bog plants in and about the mar
gins OF the lakes should be as much q
subject of artistic study as is the ar
rangement Of trees and shrubs in park scenery.
This branch of landscape decoration is wholly
neglected, but 1t is destined to become popu-
lar, and it will awaken an interest in an extern
sive class of plants that are but little known
and that possess an individuality Of form and
beauty belonging to themselves.
MOT the least interesting OF the water plants
introduced in the little lake speak OF is the
Egyptian lotus, a single seed Of which thrown
into the water has covered a large part of the
surface with the big leaves of this vegetable
curiosity. People come from all parts of
Washington when the flowers are in bloom for
the purpose of seeing those beautiful blossoms
which afford, as it were. q combination in
great size Of the lily and the rose. Many ap-
plications are made for the seeds, but the sup
ply Is so small compared with the demand
that but few OF the requests can be complied
with"