What happens to spent lily blooms?

[KurtG]

We have had a problem with neighbors pilfering things, but this is a first for us with a pond with fish and plants out front.....

The first bloom of the season just up and disapeared...I searched in the water for a sunken bloom, cut stalk, etc... nothing.

So, do the blooms just up and disapear out of sight (sink?) or should we be concerned that our visitor is back.

Here's the bloom as of 2 days ago......

 

[adavisus]

If the bloom pollinated the stem coils and pulls the bud well below water. Perhaps take a peak to see if there is a coiled stem below the lilypads. Snapping turtles have a fondness for stems... That will leave a bud floating about usually

Regards, andy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21940871@N06
http://swglist.wordpress.com/

 

[addy1]

so if the bloom pollinated, should you leave it? I have had a lot like that but been cutting them off.

Kurt g, my lily flowers seem to last 2-3 days then they sink, I have not really timed them, just a best guess. There are always ones coming up to replace them. Sometimes hard to find, I start at the pot and work up looking for them.

 

[KurtG]

I suspect it is still there underwater. I thought I saw a curled stem with a bud. I guess I was hoping it was a new one and tried not to disturb it.

Last year we had half our crop of late strawberries disapear to the neighbor's kids. This year, with no kids next door, we got an extra 10-15 lbs.......was worried the same pilfering may started with the lilies. Glad that is not the case.

We have another elderly neighbor that has been enjoying the pond and new garden out front and he seemed concerned too.

 

[addy1]

Yep I thought those curled stems with a bud was a new flower, but the new flowers are on nice straight stems pushing up.

lily learning curve lol

We are rural, no close neighbors, the only thing that might pilfer things here are critters, so far everything has been left alone.

 

[Ermasdaughter]

I just learned something too: I had no idea the curled stems weren't new flowers! Mine have been pushing up flowers non-stop for 2 months.

 

[addy1]

I cut them off so they don't rot in the pond

 

[KurtG]

I thought they would wilt or brown or something. Not just disapear all of a sudden..I did not see anything to cut at the time.

 

[addy1]

Yeah they just sink and even look like a good bud while sinking lol