Water lilies @ NYBG

 

When I headed to the New York Botanical Garden earlier this month to see the Van Gogh sunflower exhibit,

I thought I would also check out the water lilies and lotus blossoms since they were peaking.

This is the first chance I have had to catch them at leisure.

I have to say that I was really impressed.  Their collection is even better than the one at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Water lilies have a storied history – petals have been found in 3000-year-old Egyptian tombs.

And, the sacred lotus Nelumbo Nucifera symbolizes eternal life in Buddhism.

Then there’s Monet, who once wrote –

“It took me time to understand my water lilies.”

“I had planted them for the pleasure of it; I grew them without ever thinking of painting them.”

And they have dragonflies and koi fish too. 😊

Here are some other water lilies blogs …

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/11/water-lilies-lotus-flowers.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2020/11/water-lilies-2.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2021/09/water-lilies-3.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2023/08/water-lilies-4.html

 

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2025 PJ Lehrer

 

Water Lilies 3

 

When I think of summer flowers I think of water lilies.  

 

All three botanical gardens in NYC have lovely examples on display each year.  

Central Park even began adding them to Bethesda Fountain a few years ago, 

so you can catch them there, 

and as well as the Conservancy Garden at 105th Street. 

There are 70 species of water lilies. 

Some are pollinated by beetles, others by bees.  

Also, the wind and even cross-pollination.  

No wonder they are considered an invasive species in some places.  

But in Bangladesh, they are the national flower. :-)

Here are some previous water lily blogs...

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/11/water-lilies-lotus-flowers.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2020/11/water-lilies-2.html

 

Cheers!

PJ

 

(c) 2021 PJ Lehrer