"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"Alex Woodward" wrote

Stapely water gardens in Cheshire. It cost £17.50 but costs a little more
in their online shop. Here is a download link to their online brochure if
you are interested:

http://www.stapeleywg.com/downloads/...PRICE_LIST.pdf

I have a pond that has various depths. I have planted a marliacea carnea
in the deepest end and decided to plant a smaller lily in the shallower
end which is approx 14 inches from the top of the lily pot.

The Solfatares pads are starting to reach the surface but they seem very
small compared to what I expected. Even though I have added a fertiliser
spike, they are no more than 1 inch in diameter at the moment. Perhaps
this is because it has not yet established?

Yes, it will be a forced plant and very young so it will have some growing
to do before you see it's true beauty. Better next season and even better
after that.
I have Gladstoneana in my pond that simply gets bigger every year but have
tried a couple of times to establish something else without success.
Last year I bought one of the new American peach coloured ones but it
appears to have gone downwards despite having leaves all through the
winter.
I'll have to take a look at Mayla in the flesh at...
http://www.lilieswatergardens.co.uk/index.asp
it certainly look to be something special.
--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London

Bob, you seem to have a quite a bit of experience of water gardens and water
lilies, whereas I only dug and planted my first pond 1 year ago. The
marliacea carnea started to push up quite large pads straight away last year
(I planted in mid June '04) however, they never bloomed. Do you think I can
expect this lily at least, to show it's true colours this summer? I would
truly like to see my pond in mid summer looking similar to a picture
postcard. Any chance you think?

By the way, what do you mean by a 'forced plant'. I am not an experienced
gardener by any means, therefore this term is lost on me.

Alex