It took seven years to grow, and the bloom lasted only a few days. For botanist Edward Read, it was worth it. Cultivating a massive Amazonian water lily in a modest concrete basin has been his labor ...

Victoria water lilies are among the largest in the world, spanning up to 10 feet in the Amazon rainforest with sturdy leaf pads that can easily support a small child. It turns out the strongest ones ...

Victoria's flora -- Terra incognita -- Perils and wonders -- A floral sensation -- An international tempest -- Return to the wild -- Cultivating Kew Gardens -- His grace and his gardener -- The ...