If the bulb is large enough, it will bloom the first year after planting.
If the soil around your pond is soggy, the bulbs will rot. Lilies need excellent drainage.

Thanks for your reply
(wonders why water lilies are so different from lily plants)
If I didn't know any better I would have assumed they didn't mind getting soaked!

Figured I'd share some pics

I didn't realize lily bulbs needed to get separated, do to them overcrowding. any tips? how big of a hole should I dig around them as not to damage the bulbs? I'm not sure how it's done at all.

Most of the plants that have "lily" in their name have nothing to do with Lilies (genus Lilium). Hence, completely different cultural requirements. For example, your picture #2 shows Daylilies (genus Hemerocallis), not Lilies.

You can find lots of useful info on this site.

Thanks for sharing, lovely photos!

@alina Great answer! I was confused between the two, I thought they were in the same genus! I was thinking about the daylilies when I posted this.
I like the fact that their a grassy bushy plant before bloom:) (might go nice with the pond!)

Waterlilies aren't lilies is the short answer. ;)

Neither are daylilies as already mentioned.

Waterlilies are in the genus Nymphaea

You do have some lovely Asiatic and Oriental lilies though. :)