THIS WAS IN VERY POOR CONDITION BACK IN JULY 2009
The Victoria waterlily house was designed by Duncan Ferguson, and built in 1854. About half the cost (£550) was raised by charging admission to a horticultural fete, which was held at the Gardens on the 24th June 1853. The house was one of many built across Europe to house the botanical sensation of the time – Victoria amazonica, the Amazon waterlily. This gigantic waterlily was named in 1827, but it was not until 1849 that the first plant flowered at Chatsworth in England.
Until the 1920s, the west front of the building had elaborate finials above each column of the facade. The first Glasnevin plants were grown in 1849 and 1854 but did not flower. In 1855 seeds were donated from Oxford University Botanic Garden and these successfully flowered that year. In more recent years we have grown a different species – Victoria cruziana – which prefers somewhat cooler water temperatures, and has a taller rim to its leaves.
Unfortunately the Victoria Waterlily house has reached the end of its years, and is now ready for restoration. As a result we have not been able to grow the waterlily in recent years. Victoria cruziana was germinated in January of each year; by May a new leaf was added every five to eight days.
Until the 1920s, the west front of the building had elaborate finials above each column of the facade. The first Glasnevin plants were grown in 1849 and 1854 but did not flower. In 1855 seeds were donated from Oxford University Botanic Garden and these successfully flowered that year. In more recent years we have grown a different species – Victoria cruziana – which prefers somewhat cooler water temperatures, and has a taller rim to its leaves.
Unfortunately the Victoria Waterlily house has reached the end of its years, and is now ready for restoration. As a result we have not been able to grow the waterlily in recent years. Victoria cruziana was germinated in January of each year; by May a new leaf was added every five to eight days.
THIS WAS IN VERY POOR CONDITION BACK IN JULY 2009