Toolmaking Art » Pond

A Pretty Minirature Waterlily

Bob Strawn — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:00:06 +0000

Here is a lovely miniature waterlily. I have always had a fondness for the smaller waterlilies.

I rather like this one.

Not quite two inches across, with a variegated leaf.

I think the snake likes it too!

Bob

Toolmaking Resources VIII; Alice Frampton, Cornish Workshop

Bob Strawn — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:00:53 +0000

Do not believe for a moment that quality wood working or the love of fine tools is purely the domain of men. One visit to The Cornish Workshop should be enough to forever shatter that delusion.

Alf, Alice Frampton, has been generously sharing her knowledge and skills for quite a while. She has been a large influence in the old tool community. Her writings were quite influential to my learning, so though we have never met, she is one of my mentors, and I revere her. Her explanations are humorous, precise, concise and detailed.

Bob

Hybridizing Waterlilies

Bob Strawn — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:00:57 +0000

My father was a quite brilliant and gifted hybridizer of waterlilies. Here I will prove this brag, with a few links, Pioneer, Hybridization, Obituary

As a result, I am quite interested in hybridizing waterlilies, however I am quite scared to ever present a waterlily. Take for example this lovely plant.

It is a small hardy, barely 2 1/2 inches across. Quite lovely, well formed, with a lot of petals. Now for the downside, it is pink. So many pink varieties, there is hardly a reason for one more. So as far as the market goes, this may not be terribly special. Since there are enough similar plants, this may not present enough special quality to be introduced. For my own yard, it is however quite a treasure. I am calling it ‘Kirk’s Gift’ after my father.

I have a few other really nice hybrids, but none of my hybrids could really be put in the league with my father’s. I do have a mini yellow that is a cross between Helvola and Mexicana, that will occasionally bloom in full shade and blooms quite well in partial shade. I was experimenting with Helvola because it is a great mini, has odd blooming times and seems to like shade. However Helvola is quite picky about water depth and in the Texas heat, it does not always thrive.

This nice yellow mini does have enough good qualities to make it special, except, I am scared to let anyone else have any ‘Mini Mexi’, since it will take over and eliminate Mexicana from a pond. To put that in perspective, Mexicana is legendary amongst pond gardeners for taking over ponds. Mini Mexi grows much, much faster than Mexicana does. This might make it useful for creating biomass, but in the wild, it would spread way to quickly. This makes this lovely plant, potentially pond kudzu. Still, by using it to breed with other waterlilies, I may yet get a plant that would not shame the family name.

Bob

Frogs

Bob Strawn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:00:45 +0000

I like to regularly sneak in pictures of frogs for no special reason.

Here is another;

Win, win for me, I get to share a frog photo or two and it gives me more daily content.

Bob

Using water effectively

Bob Strawn — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:31 +0000

Here is how I conserve water in my garden,

The water is controlled and adjustable in each pot. The runoff from the pot, then supports the pear tree planted behind.

Here it is in early spring. The pond on the left catches water, but is allowed to dry out during the summer.

The willow trees are nearly bare this early in the year giving me full sun while the weather is cool and damp. The runoff supports the willows.

Here is what it looked like a bit over two years ago,

Here is what it looked like early this May,

The excess water has helped the willow to thrive. The dappled shade of the willow in turn, reduces evaporation in summer, keeps the temperature more moderate, and adds a rare beauty to the garden. The light dances through the leaves as the wind blows. This controlled willow forest, sequesteres carbon, conserves water, and brings joy to my soul.

Bob