New lotus setting blooms(blooms starting to open)

Big boys aren't they!!!! Wish I still had big enough property to plant some of those beauties!!

I'm thinking Mrs. Slocum may have some kudzu genes in her, whaddaya think jamesp? Just kidding. Could it be the pond on the left has more nutrients/fertilizer in it? The infamous pig sh!t? That is a huge difference between the two ponds.

Seeing how big the leaves get when they are allowed to grow free, I feel like I am being cruel to keep the lotus plants in a small half barrel... New leaves so far this year only a couple inches in size.

Looking from the east, subject on left:



Looking from the west, just planted last year:

Wife's friends are posting 'wanna bee' desires as fill ins and extras on FB. I keep telling them to come over for private auditions. Want some ?
Bush hogged and mowed all weekend. He told me the list of papers I have to sign-photo rights, insurance privileges, fees, etc. A bunch.
Supposed to come tomorrow or Tues. Will put him on a 3 wheeler to see the place and take photos.
There are so many film companies around here that there is actually competition for unique sites. Two new giants under construction.
This guy is primarily after the bamboo. If I stopped mowing the new shoots it would easily double in size each year.
They are at a state of tremendous spreading potential.
I could hire my neighbor and his tractor and have him run the 36 inch sub soiler plow around the groves and way speed up the spread rate.
A bull dozier to push trees out of the way for open field growth. And remove the wimpy varieties(got 30+).

My ole farmer neighbor next door has 400 beautiful acres, I thought he would be interested in leasing his spot. "Naw, I like my privacy".
He would not even know they were on his land.

I had other thoughts captbob

Not so affable ?

Animal activist ? PETA ? She came in your shop and gave you a tongue lashing ??

Been cleaning up the bamboo groves for a possible use as film sets by Pinewood Studios. possible,ha, will see.

www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/sets/72157652075541463

May end up with 'B' Kung Fu movies LOL. Probably not with Pinewood, they lease to upper crust film companies.
The Fayettville Georgia Pinewood leases to 31 film companies. They also have operations in Malaysia, Ireland, Dominican Republic, base in London and maybe more.
My buddy is a wheel at Vulcan Quarries here in Atlanta. They paid Vulcan $180,000 per shoot. Six shoots total for a sweet million.
Shoots were 5-10 days each. hmmm

I overhauled the little 12 inch chain saw used for trimming bamboo groves last week.
Cut and stack rogue/leaning canes and lasso them with slip knotted rope and drag them with the ATV to a giant burn pile.
Good honest work. Usually do this in the winter, a bit on the warm side prepping for these guys in the summer.
The understory of the bamboo can be sprayed directly with Round Up with no ill effects to the bamboo to maintain a carpeted look.
Weeds and saplings grow on the edges of the groves only on the sunny sides.
If check mowing is not performed around the groves, they would double in size each year.

Lily ponds to rice paddies !!! NO ! Well, for those payments...can't we just do a steamy scene in a row boat in the lilies ? LOL. I better shut up and let them alone.