Winning Waterlily Named
'Pink Ribbon'
Creator, Breast Cancer Battler,
Water Gardeners International Unite to Support
Breast Cancer Awareness
by Kit Knotts and Charles B. Thomas
Most images by Pairat Songpanich - Click to enlarge
Our world faces challenging concerns far more serious than
water gardening, one of which is cancer. We consider it a singular
privilege when the opportunity presents itself to contribute
something from our aquatic realm of the planet to help conquer
a universal threat.
Specifically, we are talking about the spectacular Waterlily
Beauty Contest winner, Joyce Grigonis'
idea of naming it, and enlisting it in the struggle to conquer
breast cancer.
In recent months, Victoria-Adventure
readers have greatly enjoyed galleries by gifted Thai hybridizer
Pairat
Songpanich. His galleries illustrate the diversity of hardy
waterlily seedlings resulting from particular crosses. They also
demonstrate Pairat's skill as a photographer and record keeper.
With so many truly beautiful seedlings deserving of individual
attention, WGI and Pairat decided to sponsor a contest to select
one of them for naming. |

Joyce Grigonis |
Soon after the voting opened, Joyce
Grigonis, WGI member from Peconic, New York, cast her ballot.
A talented artist, photographer and pond designer, Joyce is battling
breast cancer. She wistfully wrote after making her selection
from the seedlings, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if a waterlily
could be named in support of breast cancer awareness?" |

Upon hearing this, Pairat immediately agreed to name the contest
winner Nymphaea 'Pink Ribbon'. It is fitting that the
winner is a clear, brilliant pink exactly matching the shade
of pink ribbons that so many supporters of breast cancer awareness
wear and display.
 |

Pairat Songpanich
Photo by Tan-khwan Songpanich |
Pairat
Songpanich lives in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and works with
the Rubber Research Institute, Thai Department of Agriculture,
in Bangkok. His mentor in waterlily hybridizing is legendary
Dr.
Slearmlarp Wasuwat.
Three plants of N. 'Pink Ribbon' have been auctioned
with all proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Ryan Hughes, Wishing Well Ponds, Oklahoma City, OK USA, will
display Plant 1! A private donor has sent Plants 2 and 3 for
display at Denver Botanic Gardens and New York Botanical Garden. |
For 2008 plants are available through Truly
Named Members including Lilypons
Water Gardens and Lone
Star Aquatics, with a portion of proceeds contributed to
breast cancer charities. Truly Named is WGI's waterlily
certification program.
Water Gardeners International
is a not-for-profit all-volunteer organization with members in
56 countries, dedicated to promoting and providing education
about all aspects of water gardening. Membership is free. WGI
Online Journal is published quarterly. WGI's web site, together
with its partner site (also non-commercial) Victoria-Adventure.org,
is the leading Internet source for water gardening information,
receiving more than 1,300,000 hits a month. |
Introducing Nymphaea
'Pink Ribbon' |
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A Dream
Come True for Joyce Grigonis - Her Story
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
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