Reference Number – 1094
Image Date: 2001.01.13 Time:09:20:30
Subject: Centre of a lotus flower.
Location: Riverview, Qld Australia.

Australia has some beautiful native lotus but I don't think this is one of them. I've had lotus growing in my ponds for 6 years now but 2001 was the first year they flowered for me. It was worth the wait! The flowers are about 200mm (8 in) across. I checked the buds every morning before sunrise waiting for them to open. The flowers close up in the afternoon and open again in the daylight. After the third day the petals fall off and the central seed pod (the cone) starts to turn green. I made the most of the three days the flowers were open - photographing them from every angle and also trying the photograph the insects and spiders which visit. The small two small dots in the image are small flies. It has been suggested I edit them out but I've resisted as they do belong there. It is winter now in the south and the plants are dormant but I'm hopeful I'll have more flowers in the spring again.