For centuries the lotus has been admired in Chinese culture for its purity and resilience, gracefully rising from murky water to reveal vibrant blooms. At Bergen Water Gardens and Nursery, where one can find the largest selection of lotuses outside of China, this iconic plant takes center stage.
Located in Churchville, tucked between Monroe and Genesee Counties, Bergen Water Gardens and Nursery is run by husband-and-wife team Larry Nau and Lili Liu. Spread across sixteen acres, with only part of the land developed for growing, the nursery supports an extensive collection of lotus varieties as well as water lilies, orchids, dwarf conifers, and carnivorous plants. Many of these plants are rare selections that reflect years of travel, research, and cultivation experience.
After studying biology and anthropology at the University of Rochester, Nau gained early international research experience through the Operations Crossroads Africa program and later conducted fieldwork in Malawi focused on aquatic ecosystems. He began working at Pet World while still in college and, as backyard ponds grew popular in the late 1970s, his expertise in fish and aquatic plants made him the company’s go-to resource on pond development. Over a forty-one-year career, he served as livestock buyer and district manager, sourcing species from around the globe while steadily building the nursery and water gardens on land he had purchased.
In 2016, Nau married Lili Liu, a former accountant from China who brought her expertise and energy to the nursery. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Chaozhou, Liu manages social media, marketing, and retail interactions while corresponding with hybridizers and growers abroad. Together, they regularly travel to China to survey plant varieties and make purchasing arrangements, supporting and expanding their business’s internationally recognized collections.
With its carefully curated ponds and gardens, Bergen Water Gardens and Nursery stands as a testament to Nau and Liu’s long-standing dedication, knowledge, and creativity, creating a space unlike any other.
This article originally appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of (585).
Views: 27
