As a child the sight of Lotus flowers and waterlilies makes me always excited. When I visited my grandmother´s place, I always head to the pond,she had several actually. In one big pond, she grows many fishes including the native carp, Tilapias, and the other pond is full of Kois, and goldfishes. I love fish feeding as well but then I remember I would pick up some waterlilies and pinch on the bubbly stem. We had the tropical waterlilies where the stems are bit pregnant and I am just so happy when I popped them.

Over here I see waterlilies and Lotuses in our parks.I was running the other day and I saw a bunch as usual in the pond where the plant has it´s pink blooms. The hybrid ones I saw in Botanical Gardens in Munich and especially the one who really impressed me are the Giant Queen Victoria´s! In the kingdom of aquatic flowering plants, I think water lilies and Lotuses are the real Queens. They are so elegant and so fragile.

I thought they are just the same, I mean they both grow on water but then I´ve read that the biggest difference is that water lilies (Nymphaea species) leaves and flowers both float on the water’s surface since they are Rhizomes. Lotus (Nelumbo species) leaves and flowers are on the other hand rising above the water’s surface. And also that the tropical water lilies leaves float on the surface just like hardy lilies but their flowers rise above the surface of the water about 6-8 inches.Incredible, right!

Water lilies are somewhat symbolical and a great subject of art. Claude Monet painted around 250 oil painting pieces of this flower and I was actually drawn with it.He has a series about this and knowing his fondness of painting natural & floral landcapes, I was not really surprised that he chose Water Lilies to paint.

In Buddhist symbolism, the lotus represents purity of the body, speech and mind, as if floating above the murky waters of material attachment and physical desire.No wonder we always see a pond with Lotus plant and images of Buddha.

Not everyone can grow Lotus and waterlilies not unless you have a pond or big garden but then the sight of Lotuses and water lilies are always special.

For Cee´s FOTD Challenge.Thank you Cee for hosting!