International Waterlily Collection
The city of San Angelo, in North Central Texas, is home to the largest private waterlily collection in the world. There are nearly 200 varieties of water lilies at this unique botanical garden, located at 2 S Park St, San Angelo, TX 76901. Many are rare and endangered; some are only found in a few local ponds. But these plants are even more exciting—they’re all hybrids! They were created by two men named John Gilbert Smith and George Grover Smith. These men were intergenerational friends who shared an enthusiasm for water lilies that started when they were both boys growing up on farms surrounding Lake Texana in west-central Oklahoma. Their friendship was strengthened when they began a serious hobby of growing and collecting water lilies together as young adults.
Two Friends, an Endless Hobby
The Smiths were born in Oklahoma but moved just a few years later with their families to the nearby Indian Territory (the area of Oklahoma that would become the state of Texas). Their shared passion for growing and collecting water lilies began while they were young—John first saw a waterlily when he was only two years old. Water lilies were an important crop to the 19th-century farmers around Lake Texana, and John and George often worked together in an outdoor nursery with their fathers. The Oklahoma climate allowed them to grow many rare species that are now extinct in the wild. Fishing also became an important part of their hobby. Both men avidly fished for carp and catfish in the nearby rivers and lakes. John often shipped his carp and catfish specimens to George, who lived in the nearby Wichita Falls, Texas community. Over the years, John and George hauled many samples of water lilies from the local lakes and rivers to study, grow, and collect. They also built their greenhouse and planted many of the plants they collected. The two friends’ collecting and cultivation of rare and endangered water lilies eventually took over their lives; they were spending all their time on the hobby. Eventually, they had to find a way to make a living and get back to normal life.
Worldwide Reputation
John and George’s water lily collecting and hybridizing efforts became extremely well known in the scientific community. They were visited by many scholars who wrote articles about their water lily collection and hybridizing, and their reputation grew through correspondence with these researchers. The two men were invited to speak at many scientific and horticultural conferences, and they traveled across the country to different states to meet and talk with other collectors and growers. These trips also opened their eyes to the wild types of water lilies that existed in the United States, areas beyond their backyard in West Texas.
Hidden Treasures and Mysterious Origins
The Smiths created many hybrids of rare and endangered species. Some of these hybrids can be found in their private botanical garden, while others live in various public and private collections around the world. John and George sold cuttings and seeds to botanical gardens and private collectors, and they also donated hundreds of plants to several botanical gardens around the country. After John died in 1937, his son, John Gilbert Smith, Jr., of Wichita Falls, took over the growing and collecting hobby. John, who was also a taxidermist, art student, and plant collector, moved to San Angelo to continue his father’s botanical business. He continued to grow and collect waterlilies, and he even expanded the existing collection by collecting and growing new varieties as well.
A Living Museum and Educational Facility
The private water lily garden and botanical museum are called the San Angelo Waterlily Gardens. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and it is the only botanical garden and museum in the United States dedicated solely to studying, and conserving water lilies. The San Angelo Botanical Gardens opened to the public in 1968 and features more than 1,000 waterlilies from both public and private collections. The gardens’ water lily displays are set in a lushly landscaped setting with ponds, streams, walking trails, and a children’s play area. Visitors can learn about the history of the San Angelo area, as well as botany and horticulture, by touring the waterlily gardens. There are also educational programs for children, teens, and adults.
Conclusion
The waterlilies at the San Angelo Botanical Garden are a treasure trove of rare and endangered species, and they provide a unique opportunity for guests to learn about these fascinating plants and their conservation. Whether you’re a visitor or a resident of San Angelo, it’s worth the trip to this unique botanical garden. It’s a living museum, an educational facility, and a place for visitors to experience the beauty of water lilies in a new way. It’s also worth visiting the gardens just to see the many varieties of waterlilies that are only found in this one city.