Water Garden
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” Loran Eisely, 1957
Home to over 140 varieties of plants, the Water Garden and surrounding area is one of the most popular and highly visited of all displays at The Hudson Gardens. From the towering water lotus to the smallest tadpole, the Water Garden demonstrates the countless possibilities of a Colorado pond.
This corner of the Gardens is a favorite for good reason. The bold aquatic display combined with the understated beauty of the surrounding hardy perennials make the Water Garden a lush habitat. It is a prime destination for both avid gardeners and those who simply appreciate its combinations of color, texture, and form.
The guardians …
Quietly surrounding the Water Garden are over ten types of trees. But only two varieties existed on the land prior to the flood of 1965. Before then, the Platte River ran through the Water Garden area, and was lined with Cottonwood and Peach-Leaf Willow trees. Native to moist habitats and rarely found in dry climates such as Colorado, these trees thrived on the water’s edge. Although the river channel has since been relocated, the Cottonwoods and Peach-Leaf Willows remain as evidence of its previous course.
The Peach-Leaf Willow (Salix amygdaloides) and the Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) are two of the very few types of deciduous trees native to Colorado. The Peach-Leaf Willow is a 35′ – 50′ tree, primarily identified by its characteristic willow branches that droop downward. Its leaves are long and narrow, with green or yellow surfaces and white undersides. This tree is ideal for wet soils, such as the Water Garden, because it has an extensive root system that holds soil in place and helps to control erosion.
Four large Cottonwoods, each reaching a height of almost 100′, are found along the borders of the Water Garden. These majestic trees were named for the fluffy white cotton that their seeds produce during spring months. Their leaves are flat, triangle-shaped, and tend to “whisper” when the wind blows.
On the border …
The majority of the plants that surround the water are hardy perennials, meaning that they tolerate cooler temperatures and go into a dormant state during the winter months. Hardy plants are ideal for the Colorado climate because they withstand dramatic shifts in climate and require less maintenance.
In the water …
The most striking feature of the Water Garden is undoubtedly the aquatic plants that inhabit its waters. Perhaps the most eye-catching of these is the Mrs. Perry D. Slocum lotus, which covers a full 1 /3 of the Garden and grows upwards of four feet in height. Also known as the Sacred Lotus, this hardy plant is native to China and is the most popular and largest selling lotus in North America. Each flower blooms for three days, changing from pink on the first day to yellow on the third. Although it is primarily used in the United States as a display plant, many countries use its stem as a narcotic.
The Water Garden also features a variety of hardy water lilies that rest on the water’s surface. These water lilies not only make for a beautiful display, but like the lotus, they also provide shade and cover for many pond creatures and plants that live beneath the water surface. They are vital to the local ecosystem, as they reduce the presence of algae in the water by absorbing nutrients and carbon dioxide through their leaves.
Both the lotus and lilies are rooted in a natural soil bed that has developed over time as the plantings have become more established. It consists of leaves, debris, dirt, and decaying vegetation that has settled along the bottom of the pond. Of the three ponds at The Hudson Gardens, The Water Garden is the only one whose plants rest in a natural soil bed.
The world’s smallest flowering plant …
Lemnaceae, commonly known as Duckweed, appears as flat and dense green mats that float on the water’s surface. It tends to grow in stagnant or slow-moving water and can cover the entire surface of a body of water (for example, the Wetlands at The Hudson Gardens). Each leaf, or frond, is a maximum of 10 millimeters in length, and its flowers are only 1 millimeter in diameter – so small that they are virtually undetectable! As a free-floating plant, Duckweed roots are not attached to the ground. They simply dangle from the plant, below the water surface, and are approximately two centimeters in length.
Commonly mistaken as an indicator of an unhealthy pond, the presence of Duckweed is beneficial and balances the pond ecosystem. It not only provides shade for underwater aquatic life, but also aids in water treatment as it absorbs excess nutrients from the water and reduces algae growth. Duckweed also provides a good source of fat and protein for birds.
The Water Garden’s favorite inhabitants …
As one approaches the Water Garden, the sights and sounds of frogs and toads are immediately evident. These amphibians are one of the most popular attractions at Hudson Gardens, whether they be polliwogs, tadpoles, or adult frogs and toads. Although they are quite active during the spring and summer months, frogs and toads spend their winters hibernating and burrowing beneath the soil. Hundreds of new tadpoles are born throughout the spring and summer months and the life cycle can be viewed from start to finish.
The Water Garden is maintained by dedicated volunteers from the Colorado Water Garden Society, who provide weekly maintenance by fertilizing the lilies and removing deteriorating plants and leaves.
For more information on water gardens and aquatic plants, please visit these helpful websites:
Did you know?
The bubbles in the water are not from fish but rather from aeration pipes that are located on the bottom of the pond. These pipes pump oxygen into the water, which prevents the water from becoming stagnant and helps break down organic material.