Fragrant Water Lilies are all over the quieter ponds now; they're a native wild plant. Theipure white flower petals of the Lilies open and reflect themselves in the water during sunny summer days; they demurely close their petals when the sun’s spotlight moves away in the afternoons or when it clouds over.
Underneath their large round leaves, there’s shade for fish and aquatic invertebrates, such as dragonfly nymphs. On top, their leaves become floats for frogs to loll and birds to stand, both looking for water bugs.
The Fragrant Water Lily seeds are a favorite of ducks and other waterfowl, and their underwater stems (Rhizomes) are munched by muskrats, beaver, deer, moose, and even porcupines. (Brooklin, Maine)