What type of lily is that? Those are some large pads already. Your water lily must really fill in your main pond by mid-summer... just in time.

Your irises too, what type? Are the ones in the pond the same as the ones outside along the banks? I wish my water irises grew like that. I'm thinking that my irises aren't coming back after our hard winter! (May not have dropped them deep enough?). What's your secret?

This year I decided to control myself and not buy any more water lilies or tropical lilies. Last year I had 2 hardy waterlilies in this stocktank pond and they were way too crowded. So now I just have 2 lily per stocktank. (I have 2 other 300 gallon tanks elsewhere in the yard). The water lilies seem to be slow this year, but its been pretty cool.
The water lily in the pond is a rose arey. There is one potted, sitting at the bottom of the stocktank and the other one I just threw in there when I thinned them, and its just floating. Its sort of an experiment.
I overwintered some of my waterlilies at the bottom of this pond (about 24" down), but I did use a deicer throughout the winter. I also have buried them just underground next to the house and they do fine over winter.

The purple iris to the back left are siberian irises called "ruffled velvet".
The pinkish purple ones to the back right are also siberian irises called "pink haze". I have 2 more varieties that haven't flowered yet. I really like siberian and japanese iris. They're so delicate-looking.
The purple stuff at the front right are Dame's rocket that self seeds.

The iris in the pond is a black gamecock iris. I bought it last year and its really going crazy now. I have already thinned it and put the rest in the lotus bog....which I may regret!
I also have an invasive little plant (around the waterfall) called gooseneck loosestrife. I try to pull it out everywhere else, but its great for hiding the back of the waterfall. the snakes like hiding in it too.
I've planted a couple hostas, coneflowers, butterfly bushes, hyssop, crocosmia, northern oats. I'm trying to attract more and more butterflies.
I'm afraid I have an addiction! This spring has been the worst! On some days, I've actually gone to 4-5 nurseries!
I'm just about out of room, but that doesn't seem to stop me from buying more! haha There are worse addictions, right? :)

The Gamecock Iris is stunning, even when not in bloom. You'll have to post a picture though when it is!

I've heard that most irises will not bloom the year they are divided or planted. Don't know if that is the true or not, but it has been my experience.

Then again, I've never had a water iris bloom for me (mainly because they barely survive the winter).

Your pond looks great, minus the snakes. **shiver** I have a long ways to go before mine looks that awesome, but I have been inspired again. Thank you and to all those that post such beautiful pictures, thanks to you too.

Lisa