IWGS

Events

As a benefit to our members, the IWGS offers two special annual events. We hope you’ll join us for our annual Symposiums. And of course, stay tuned for each year’s announcement of our New Waterlily Competition winners.

Annual Symposium

The IWGS Annual Symposium is filled with educational seminars, networking opportunities, great food, and plenty of fun. Speakers from all over the world provide the latest information on waterlilies and all things water gardening. Past Symposia have been held in Canada, China, France, Germany, Thailand, the UK, and the US. View photos from past Symposia.

Our last Symposium was a first-ever Cruise Symposium from February 2-7, 2013. The cruise ship departed from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida USA and traveled to Belize City, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico.  The group also toured Florida Aquatic Nurseries prior to the cruise.   

Speakers Included:

Carlos Magdalena of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in Surrey, United Kingdom spoke about his hybridizing work and happenings at Kew Gardens.

Nopchai Chansilpa from Thailand gave a talk about his waterlily and lotus hybridizing.
 
Brandon McLane of Florida Aquatic Nurseries, Ft Lauderdale, Florida USA spoke to the group about his work with creating intersubgeneric waterlilies.
 
 
See their Bios: http://iwgs.org/site/wp-content/uploads/Bios-2013-cruise.pdf
 
 

New Waterlily Competition

In order to promote interest in hybridizing new colors, forms, and increased frequency of blooms of various sizes of both tropical and hardy waterlilies, the IWGS conducts an annual competition where hybridizers display their new creations. This exciting competition has resulted in the introduction of noteworthy new hybrids: plants with unusual flower shapes and colors; new leaf patterns and colors; and new viviparous lilies.

The IWGS has held the New Waterlily Competition for 13 of the last 15 years. Approximately 40 hybridizers from 9 countries have submitted over 200 entries. Many of these new waterlilies are available for purchase, so be sure to keep your eye on these beauties as you will want to add these to your water garden.

Hybridizers entering this year's competition who wish to donate toward the operating costs of the contest can do so via PayPal:

 

Entry forms for the 2013 New Waterlily Competition are due by March 31st. 

A copy of the entry form can be downloaded as a pdf: 2013 NWC Entry Form or as a word document: 2013 NWC Entry Form

The rules of entry can be found here: 2013 NWC Rules