History of IWGS
From Seed to Blossom: A History of the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society
When people become serious about a subject, they acquire a never-ending thirst for additional information while looking for others to discuss common interests. Dedicated waterlily folks are no different. Back in 1982 there were few people in the profession and even fewer avenues for sharing mutual concerns. Something as simple as determining a waterlily’s correct name was extremely difficult since there weren’t standard descriptions or accurate live examples for comparison. News of recent hybrids and introductions was almost non-existent. Even the most basic water gardening information was scarce in print. There were no waterlily or water gardening groups at any level – hobbyist, academic, or professional.
In 1982 Charles Thomas planted a seed among other waterlily enthusiasts for creating a society. He fertilized it relentlessly. Luckily two events heightened interest for forming the organization. In 1983 the first local water gardening group formed in Colorado (Colorado Water Garden Society) and the following year one of the few water gardening writers visited the US from Ireland. Thomas capitalized upon the occasion, inviting him to visit and to help launch the new Water Lily Society. Hundreds from the US and many from Europe attended a well-planned affair where the organization was officially announced on September 22, 1984.
With officers and an editor to guide them, the talented group of enthusiasts/volunteers proceeded to grow the Society at a very rapid rate. (All that fertilizer paid off.) The activities of 1985 included incorporation as a non-profit organization, the first journal issues, expansion of membership to several hundred, and the first annual Symposium.
From its inception, the Society was envisioned as an international group and within a year had members from 40 states and 10 countries. It was decided to change the name to International Water Lily Society (IWLS) so potential members would understand its scope. While water lilies were the association’s primary focus, interest in allied topics was strong. Therefore the journal was titled Water Garden Journal and also included articles on related subjects. The organization’s last change acknowledged the importance of these associated areas and in 1998 became the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS).
The mission of the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society has remained constant. However services now include education, research, and conservation. The tools used to disseminate the latest and best information have also grown over the years. The nucleus is still the Journal, annual Symposia, and a strong network of knowledgeable people. However, now there are ongoing research grants, an extensive reference library, international registries of Nymphaea and Nelumbo, and certified collections of Nymphaea.
Many of the original volunteers continue to help plan its future. They, along with others from around the world, share their passion. In spite of (or because of) their diverse backgrounds and knowledge, they strive to grow a Society committed to enhancing and expanding the information available about waterlilies and water gardening. Members now have a place to turn, no matter what their situation may be -- retailers looking for suppliers, growers improving their techniques, hybridizers testing new lilies, or hobbyists hoping to learn. Their original seed has blossomed and they look forward to what next season will bring.
