There is a treasure in my neighborhood that is unexpected and beautiful. In a garden, in a small pond, is the most wonderful lotus plant. The leaves are bigger than my head, the flowers are glorious and the seed pods, so interesting. The woman who has the lotus says she doesn't own it but rather she tends and cares for it. "Who could own such beauty?" she asks.
The lotus is a mysterious flower, so luscious and amazing. It has breathtaking elegance and delicacy. It is not surprising that the lotus holds special meaning in Buddhism, Hinduism and Ancient Egyptian cultures. For all the pictures that I took I could only capture a sliver of its beauty.
"The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest mud" -Buddhist Proverb
“The lotus comes from the murkiest water but grows into the purest thing.” -Nita Ambani
"I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained." -Zhou Dunyi
"May I live like the lotus at ease in the muddy water." -Unknown
I find all parts of the lotus plant fascinating. The center of the flower grows and becomes a striking seed pod that looks like a rain shower head on a stem. These pods are as unique as the flowers.
In the fall, the flowers are gone and the seed pods turn a brown color. The plant completely dies back and disappears under the water for the winter. In the spring it comes up fresh and creates the miracle again.
The leaves of the lotus are enormous, so big that they seem unreal.
They are full of veins and are marvelous with light shining through them.
Lotus leaves have a particular ability to repel water that is so photogenic.
The lotus blossom attracts bees by heating itself. The heat releases an attractive aroma bringing insects to feed in the flower's warm environment.
I am continually awed by this flower's beauty and grateful to live close enough to this lotus to enjoy it in all its forms.
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