Lily Pond & Fountain at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Nov. 2006

Lily Pool Terrace

Two large pools are planted with nearly 100 varieties of hardy and tropical water-lilies and sacred lotus—a stunning attraction in July, August, and September.

Spectacular hardy and tropical water-lilies blend with elegant sacred lotuses and other aquatic plants on Lily Pool Terrace. A hungry heron or egret can often be seen stalking the schools of darting koi. Most years, a crowd-pleasing family of mallards paddles among the lily pads. The centerpiece of Lily Pool Terrace is the Jenkins Fountain, directly in front of the Palm House. Two large pools are situated to its north and south, bordered on the west by the mixed perennial border, and on the east by the annual border.

Most of the lilies (Nymphaea species) in the pools are hardy water-lilies, which usually have small leaves and flowers that lie on the surface of the water. They are interplanted with tropical lilies, which have larger leaves, a wider variety of deeper colors, and flowers that stand up from the water. Sacred lotuses are planted at the ends of each pool. These plants stand well above the water, bearing their buds, unfurling leaves, flowers, and seed pods all at the same time. They are sacred in the Buddhist religion, "emblematic of the soul of man, resting always in calm above the surging activities of the world; existing in the sunlight pure and undefiled; rooted in the world of experience."

The dozens of aquatic plants make a sumptuous, elegant display in July and August, when the blooms are abundant and the lily pads cover the water. The following is just a small selection of the plants in the pools in 1998.

Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) cultivars:
'Angel Wings'
'Carolina Snow'
'Patricia Garrett'
'Momo Botan'
'Sharon'
'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum'
Hardy Water-lily (Nymphaea species) cultivars:
Nymphaea x marliacea 'Chromatella'
'Andreana'
'James Brydon'
'Ellisiana'
'Fabiola'
'Gold Medal'
'Hollandia'
'Mayla'
'Picciola'
'Vesuve'
'White Delight'
Tropical Water-lily (Nymphaea species) cultivars:
'Jennifer Rebecca'
'Ruby'
'Queen of Siam'
'Blue Beauty'
'Virginalis'
'Green Smoke'
'Dauben'
'Antares'

History of Lily Pool Terrace

Construction of the Lily Pool Terrace began in 1919, shortly after the conservatories were completed, and was finished in 1921. The pools are constructed of reinforced concrete with limestone coping. The Jenkins Fountain is centered in a pool 24 feet in diameter and 1-1/2 feet deep. Originally, this pool had cattails planted between large rocks near the base of the fountain. During the 1970s, the rocks and cattails were removed. Since that time, a diverse collection of container-grown aquatic plants has been displayed seasonally.

The large pool south of the Jenkins Fountain measures 29 feet by 64 feet, and is three feet deep. Plants are contained in large tubs set directly on the floor of the pool. From the time of construction to the late 1980s, this pool was devoted to a collection of hardy water-lilies.

The north water-lily pool is almost a mirror image of the south pool, except it has an arc-bay at its northern end. Originally, it was heated by hot water piping and was used for tropical water-lilies. In 1976, the economic crisis in New York City and the global energy shortage forced a decision to stop heating the north pool. Some time after that, it was decided to focus more on the hardy water-liles and lotuses, with interplanted tropical water-lilies. The tropicals and lotuses are raised above the pool floor to take advantage of the warmth from the pool's natural thermocline.

The fourth pool is located at the northern end of Lily Pool Terrace and is called the Lion's Head Pool for its wall fountain. It is the smallest of the pools and displays several lotuses and water-lilies.

Text from: www.bbg.org/exp/stroll/lilypool.html