Missouri Botanical Garden Eyes Lily Pad Crown | St. Louis News

Missouri Botanical Garden is back in the race for the world’s strongest waterlily title, aiming to reclaim their crown after narrowly losing last year’s showdown. With a Victoria longwood hybrid pad holding 149 pounds — down from last year’s 142.1 — they’re battling global contenders in a viral competition that’s drawing over fifty entries from eight countries. The garden credits warmer temps and a family of ducklings (who’ve been chilling on their pads) for the smaller size this year. These historic lilies, dating back to 1894, can grow up to ten feet wide — and now they’re proving just how strong they really are. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4e3b2f579b56bc6e