VERO BEACH — The shady pathways and cool streams and ponds of McKee Botanical Garden welcomed visitors to the 9th Annual Water Lily Celebration Saturday. The iconic blooms were the stars of the day, the divas of the garden, their delicate appearance belying their sturdy structure.
On this very hot day, the abundant shade was especially welcome. Invariably, as visitors stroll around the ponds and along the paths, they slow their pace, speak softly to one another, pause often, smile a lot.
Floating amidst the lilies were vari-colored glass globes, the work of glass artist Hans Godo Frabel, whose fanciful creations have been featured here on several occasions. The lilies were brilliant and beautiful, from deep reds to rich purples to glowing gold and delicate cream. Soaring amongst them were slender crimson dragonflies, landing often on the watery blooms and pads, and all over the garden, photographers and artists captured one lovely scene after another.
The day began with an 8:30 a.m. self-guided tour. Activities included a Water Lily Photography Class with J. Patrick Rice; aquatic plants and koi sales in the Spanish Kitchen; and a Water Lily Q&A and Potting Demonstration by Edna Carsner, up to her knees in a pond, hoisting a dripping lily, its legs dangling soggily.
“We’re constantly walking around in muck,” Carsner said. “Lilies love the muck.”
Responding to a question, she explained, “The lotus (not a water lily) is hard to propagate. My mentor told me you nick the pod, put it in the water – and pray.”
From the bank, she snatched a pot containing a totally limp, seemingly lifeless lily.
“This girl, she’s suffering. But she’ll be OK,” Carsner said. “You just have to put her in the water. Pads and everything.”
And down into the pond the little plant went.
Heading toward the popular Garden Antique and Collectibles area, Rhode Island natives George and Sally Fraizer and friend and “wannabe photographer” Kati Tucker had come down from Barefoot Bay for the day.
Volunteer Suzanne Liggett hurried by carrying a handsome McKee tote bag. A volunteer since 2000, she is a tour guide and also works in the garden.
“I’ve been back there pulling Brazilian peppers this morning,” she said, pointing.
McKee members Jonathan Miller and Janet Fetzer enjoyed their stroll in the garden carrying umbrellas.
“It is 10 degrees cooler under here,” Fetzer said. “I’m never without it. See me, see my umbrella.”
Soon-to-be 5th-grader Sabena Gaddy was showing friend Gia Prion, from Tallahassee, around the garden. Sabrena’s dad, Kevin Gaddy, is on McKee’s Horticulture Staff.
The Children’s Activity area at the Spanish Kitchen featured origami frog making, and the two girls eagerly showed off their little green paper creations, which they had folded so cleverly that they actually jumped when tapped just right.
Also available were recent additions to the children’s activities – Garden Discovery Backpacks, the brainchild of volunteers Pam Schlamowitz and Lucie Burke. Kids could choose from five backpacks to check out, each with age-friendly exploration tools and guides: Garden Explorer, Things With Wings, It’s a Bug’s World, Plantastic, or Survival, Lost in the Jungle (for older children).
Each contained an activity guide, journal and assortment of tools, to help guide children – and adults – around the garden.
The girls, breathless, had been exploring.
“We went all over,” said Gia. “We did the scavenger hunt. We found a lot.”
The backpacks, supplied through grants from the William Bingham, JA Woollam and Vero Beach Rotary foundations, are a clever way to help young visitors see for themselves that the garden is far more than just a serene (boring), green landscape. It is actually 18 acres teeming with activity.
In the Hall of Giants, the entries in the Water Lily Photography competition were displayed. Water lilies are right up there with pelicans in Florida photography popularity, and there were some gorgeous shots.
First place winners included:
- Color – J.R. Williams, “Sunkist Campfire Lily”
- Black and White – Billy Ocker, “My Suiren” (Japanese for water lily)
- Manipulated – Richard Winegar, “Waterlily Fire”
For the first time, there was a youth category.
- Manipulated – Logan Racine, 17, “Lily in the Dark”
- Black and White – Mia Arrington, 7, “In the Light”
