The number one thing that differentiates these types visually is that hardy lilies have smooth pads and tropical lilies have rough edged pads. Also night bloomers often have more pronounced veining on the underside of the pads. Pretty much all blue/purple lilies are tropical, there is one hardy blue, but I'm not sure it is in mass circulation yet. I'm a little confused about the 'seed' comment. I've been in this business for a few years and 'seeds' and water lilies don't really mix. If they are little tubers, look kinda like walnuts, that is a tropical tuber. I don't know of any hardy lilies that 'seed' or tuber.

I am looking for purple and bright pink tropical lilies. I especially love the viviparous ones. Also interested in Green Smoke and Craig Presnell's lilies such as Foxfire and Midnight Embers. The local University Arboretum is having their annual plant sale. If you have tropicals that I am looking for, I'll send you the plant list to see if there is anything you can't live without! The sale is April 12. Thanks, Brenda

Kat, I would be interested in doing some trading with you if you would like. I would be interested in JoAnne Pring, Mrs. George C. Hitchcock, and Afterglow (2 of Afterglow if you have them). I have a very extensive list of plants so you can check them and see if I have anything that you want. The only tropical I have up for trade right now is Albert deLestang. If you are not familiar with this tropical, it is an Austrailian waterlily that I have had much success growing. If you are interested in seeing what this lily looks like, go to http://www.victoria-adventure.org/waterlilies/anecphya_galleries/gigantea_albert_de_lestang.html where you can find a photo gallery of it. Though none of the pictures show it, Albert has a pretty icy blue tone on the first and second days. The flowers on this lily last a week compared to the four days of other tropicals. The plant that I have to send is a smaller plant but has TONS of growth on it and will be blooming size in a few weeks if given the proper care. It got a later start than all of my other tropicals. I also have Almost Black and then you can check my trade list and see what all else I have that you are interested in (go to www.geocities.com/lucasdalderson/myplants.html). I have most of the hardies up for trade but a different story on the bog plants and tropicals. I would be willing to trade 2 hardies per tropical with the exception of Almost Black because it is slightly rare. All plants will be good sized though Almost Black is a start but has very nice growth on it like the Albert deLestang. Let me know if you are interested in doing some trading. Happy ponding, Lucas D. Alderson

I have sumatrana X gran nain bananas and high color mini super dwarf cavendish I'd trade one of those for a start of the Dauben tropical. Blue, right? e-mail me if you're interested. Or I have lots of other tropical plants that would love your warm weather. I have pink capensis, started some from seed last year, I can send you seed, I'm sure there is some in the pond. I pulled a tuber, but it's not sprouting yet. I also have a nice white nightbloomer, but it's not named. Should bloom in a few weeks.