Evening star., 1938-09-14
SHAW LILY PONDS
ACQUIRED FOR D. c.
Far-Fame Water Gardens
Expected to Become
Public ShoWpIace.

The famous Shaw lily ponds, among
Washington's most striking beauty
spots. became public property today
with the signature by Acting Secretary
Of War Louis Johnson of final papers
covering purchase of the property by
the Army engineer Office for the local
district.
The purchase totals 8iA acres, in
eluding about 61a acres Of lily ponds
and the two acres Of marshland be-
tween the ponds and the Anacostia
River Parkway. which may later be
developed as additional pond area for
the growing of additional water plants.
Included in the property acquired by
the Government are more than rs
ponds of various sizes, from few hun
dred square feet to ~ acres in area.
The ponds will be turned over to the
Office of National Capital Parks for
perpetual preservation and addition to
the Anacostia Parkway. The purchase
did not include any buildings. More
than 18 acres of upland, remaining
in the Shaw estate, was not pur-
chased and will continue in private
ownership.
Congress Voted $4,000.
The purchase was made possible by
the appropriation by Congress in the
current District Appropriation Act of
$4,000 for the purpose. To this
amount the Army engineers have add
ed an undisclosed sum from funds for
the development of the Anacostia
Parkway to round out the purchase.
The acquisition of this property
gives the National Capital one of the
most distinctive parks of its kind in
the world, officials said. There are
approximately 100000 plants in the
gardens, which attract thousands of
visitors annually when the multi-col-
ored lilies are in full bloom, about
June. In public ownership it is
planned to develop the area into
show place which during the summer
months is expected to rival the Tidal
Basin cherry blossom show as an at
traction for visitors.
The water lily gardens were founded
In 1870 by Walter B. Shaw, father of
Mrs. Helen Fowler, from whom the
Government today purchased them.
Marshes Given to Shaw.
Soon after the Civil War Mr.. Shaw,
Union soldier, came to Washington
to work in the Treasury Department.
He had lost an arm in the bloody
battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse.
He bought farm in the Anacostia
Valley at KenilWorth and the real
estate agent threw in" seven acres Of
what he considered worthless swamp
land. This swamp became the Shaw
water gardens. said to be the largest
lily farm in the world.
About SO years ago, Mr.. Shaw sent
to his boyhood home in Maine for
II bulbs of hardy, white pond lilies.
These he planted in a small, unused
ice pond in his marsh. They soon out
grew the bounds of the pond. Other
ponds were dug. Mr.. Shaw became
interested in other varieties Of lilies.
The marsh and the lilies became his
outstanding hobby. Despite the loss
Of his arm, he rowed his own boats
about the increasing ponds as he
planted, cared for and gathered the
lilies after working all day in the
Treasury Department.
He began to experiment and de-
velop new varieties and gave to the
world many new lilies. His lilies be-
came known all over the world and
his hobby grew into thriving indus
try.
Daughter Continued Work.
When Mr. Shaw died in 1921, at
the age of 80, Mrs Fowler carried
on his work and, like her father,
experimental, crossed different varie-
ties and developed many new lilies.
The ponds during the past few years
have yielded as many as half
million blooms a season. Mrs. Fowler
also has become famous as painter
Of the blooms she raises.
The water gardens have been kept
true to nature so far as was consistent
with their purpose. Native trees,
shrubs, grasses and plants have been
retained in the land areas. Weeping
willows overhang the water. In these
surroundings grow many of the
worlds most exotic water plants. from
every part Of the globe.
Scientists and horticulturists from
oil over the world have visited the
ponds, as have many of the most
distinguished visitors to Washington.
President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson
were frequent visitors and Mrs Calvin
Coolidge became one of the ardent
supporters of the movement, which
began IA years ago, for public acquisi-
ton Of the area as public park.
The ponds are across the Anacostia
River from the National Arboretum,
which further increases the value and
beauty of the entire area.