The Night Dancer: Victoria Cruziana’s Enchanting Ballet

November 8, 1849

On this day, dear gardening enthusiasts, a horticultural marvel unfurled its petals for the first time in England, casting a spell of wonder upon all who beheld it.

The Victoria cruziana, that most regal of water lilies, deigned to grace the Duke of Devonshire's custom-built greenhouse at Chatsworth with its inaugural bloom.

One can only imagine the collective gasp of awe that must have echoed through the glass-paned structure!

As if by royal decree, the other specimens soon followed suit, each blossom a testament to nature's ingenuity.

And how fitting it was that one of these floral marvels found its way to the hands of Queen Victoria herself, for whom this aquatic beauty was partially named.

The other half of its moniker honors Andres de Santa Cruz, President of Peru and Bolivia, whose patronage of botanical expeditions led to the discovery of this enchanting species.

Imagine, if you will, the wild habitats of northern Argentina and Paraguay, where the Victoria cruziana once reigned supreme over open waters.

Alas, the march of progress has taken its toll, and this magnificent plant now finds itself on the precipice of extinction due to the relentless advance of deforestation.

But take heart, dear readers!

For in recent years, a most heartening sight has graced the Salado River in Paraguay - hundreds of Santa Cruz Water Lilies, returning like prodigal children to their ancestral waters.

One can almost picture the quaint scene of locals ferrying awestruck tourists in humble canoes to witness this resurgence of natural splendor.

Now, let us turn our attention to the sheer grandeur of the Victoria cruziana's proportions.

Its lily pads, veritable floating islands, can stretch to an astonishing two meters - nearly seven feet - in diameter!

One can scarcely fathom the sight without imagining oneself as a mere water strider upon its vast surface.

In the rarefied air of our modern greenhouses, these aquatic marvels are coaxed into life from the humblest of beginnings - a seed.

As evening descends, horticulturists must play the part of industrious beetles, pollinating the flowers by hand in a delicate dance of cultivation.

But oh, what a spectacle unfolds in the plant's native climes!

Allow me to paint you a picture of this nocturnal ballet:

As twilight embraces the water's surface, a pure white bud emerges, exuding the most tantalizing aroma of pineapple.

Can you smell it, dear readers? As night deepens its hold, a miraculous transformation occurs - the flower, through some alchemical process, begins to generate heat.

This warmth, coupled with the fruity fragrance, proves irresistible to the local scarab beetles. These tiny revelers dive deep into the floral cornucopia, partaking in a veritable Thanksgiving feast of starch.

But wait!

As dawn breaks, our gluttonous guests find themselves trapped within the now-closed petals. Fear not for their safety, for nature has a grand plan in motion.

Throughout the day, the flower undergoes a metamorphosis most extraordinary - its scent dissipates, its hue shifts from pristine white to blushing pink, and most remarkably, its very sex changes from female to male!

When dusk once again falls, the flower reopens, releasing our pollen-laden beetles to seek out the next freshly opened, pineapple-scented female bloom.

Is this not a tale worthy of the most fanciful imagination?

Now, let us delve beneath the surface, where the true engineering marvel of the Victoria cruziana reveals itself.

The underside of these colossal pads boasts an intricate vaulted rib structure, a design so perfect it could only be the work of Mother Nature herself.

These ribs, replete with air pockets, bestow upon the pad its buoyancy and load-bearing capacity.

It was this very pattern that sparked the imagination of Joseph Paxton, inspiring his revolutionary design for the Crystal Palace in 1851.

To illustrate the remarkable strength of these natural pontoons, one need only recall that famous photograph from the 1800s.

Picture, if you will, five children perched atop individual lily pads, one youngster of no more than three years seated in a rocking chair balanced precariously on this living raft.

The serene expressions on their faces as they gaze into the camera speak volumes about the steadfast reliability of these botanical marvels.

But let us not be lulled into complacency by the Victoria cruziana's placid appearance. For beneath that smooth upper surface lurks a formidable defense system.

Every part of the plant, save for its upper deck, is armed with ferocious spines, a stark warning to any aquatic nibblers who might fancy a taste.

I must share with you, dear readers, a most fascinating video I recently posted in the Facebook Group for the Show.

It features the esteemed Senior Horticulturist Pat Clifford of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, demonstrating to a wide-eyed intern the art of managing these colossal water lilies.

With the grace of a seasoned conductor, Pat wields his pitchfork to carefully fold a giant lily pad - first in half, then quarters, and once more for good measure. With a swift, practiced motion, he pierces the folded mass, hoisting it aloft to drain before depositing it at the pond's edge.

But prepare yourselves, for the camera's unforgiving eye reveals a most shocking sight - the underside of the pad bristles with thorns so vicious they would put the proudest rose to shame!

One can only marvel at the dexterity required to handle such a beautifully dangerous creation of nature.

As we tend to our own modest water features, let us pause to appreciate the wondrous Victoria cruziana.

From its nocturnal pollination dance to its architectural inspiration, this regal water lily reminds us of the endless marvels that await the curious gardener.

May we all approach our horticultural pursuits with the same blend of wonder and respect that this magnificent plant commands!