DENVER — A series of popular TikTok and Instagram videos has helped turn a playful challenge into a global event. The “Waterlily Weigh-Off” now involves 48 public gardens, including Denver, across nine different countries.

Bok Tower Gardens in Florida won this year’s friendly competition, whose goal was to see how much weight a single waterlily leaf can hold, with a leaf that supported 183 pounds. Denver’s entry managed about 50 pounds, Assistant Manager of Learning Engagement at the Denver Botanic Gardens Vanessa Callahan said.

“It started as just trying to call out a few other gardens,” Callahan said. “Once it started getting views, especially on TikTok, it really took off, and other gardens jumped in really quickly after we posted our first video.” Denver may not have won the waterli

See Full Page