Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Lotus

In the afternoon of Day 6 of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago, 18 March 2017, my friends and I visited the Nariva Swamp on the east coast of Trinidad, which is mainly agricultural habitats with some wetlands. We had some good birding there and last night I posted photos of a few more of the birds we saw. We also saw a few interesting plants, especially the Sacred Lotus. This is one of my favourite things to photograph in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera "The pods/seed heads contain the Lotus seeds within little circular chambers on the flat surface of the top of the pod. These circles appeared to cradle the seeds, which are round, within the pod until fully ripe. Both the chamber of each seed and the seed itself get larger and larger until the pod bends over to finally release the seeds into the water." www.flowersociety.org/lotus-plant-study.htm "The Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The swamp is located on the east coast of Trinidad, immediately inland from the Manzanilla Bay through Biche and covers over 60 square kilometres (23 mi). The Nariva Swamp is extremely biodiverse. It is home to 45 mammal species, 39 reptile species, 33 fish species, 204 bird species, 19 frog species, 213 insect species and 15 mollusc species. All this contained in just 60 square kilometers. The area provides important habitat for waterfowl and is key habitat for the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), caimans, anacondas, boa constrictors, red howler monkeys, white-fronted capuchin monkeys, numerous species of parrots, including both the blue-and-gold macaw and red-bellied macaws, as well as many wetland and savanna birds. Four major wetland vegetation types occur in the Nariva Swamp - mangrove swamp forest, palm forest, swamp wood, and freshwater marsh." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nariva_Swamp www.ima.gov.tt/home/images/publications/brochures/NARIVA_... www.destinationtnt.com/nariva-swamp/ This is a video that I found on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it. youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M This afternoon, I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015. youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk

In the afternoon of Day 6 of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago, 18 March 2017, my friends and I visited the Nariva Swamp on the east coast of Trinidad, which is mainly agricultural habitats with some wetlands. We had some good birding there and last night I posted photos of a few more of the birds we saw. We also saw a few interesting plants, especially the Sacred Lotus. This is one of my favourite things to photograph in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera "The pods/seed heads contain the Lotus seeds within little circular chambers on the flat surface of the top of the pod. These circles appeared to cradle the seeds, which are round, within the pod until fully ripe. Both the chamber of each seed and the seed itself get larger and larger until the pod bends over to finally release the seeds into the water." www.flowersociety.org/lotus-plant-study.htm "The Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The swamp is located on the east coast of Trinidad, immediately inland from the Manzanilla Bay through Biche and covers over 60 square kilometres (23 mi). The Nariva Swamp is extremely biodiverse. It is home to 45 mammal species, 39 reptile species, 33 fish species, 204 bird species, 19 frog species, 213 insect species and 15 mollusc species. All this contained in just 60 square kilometers. The area provides important habitat for waterfowl and is key habitat for the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), caimans, anacondas, boa constrictors, red howler monkeys, white-fronted capuchin monkeys, numerous species of parrots, including both the blue-and-gold macaw and red-bellied macaws, as well as many wetland and savanna birds. Four major wetland vegetation types occur in the Nariva Swamp - mangrove swamp forest, palm forest, swamp wood, and freshwater marsh." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nariva_Swamp www.destinationtnt.com/nariva-swamp/ This is a video that I found on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it. youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M This afternoon, I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015. youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk

In the afternoon of Day 6 of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago, 18 March 2017, my friends and I visited the Nariva Swamp on the east coast of Trinidad, which is mainly agricultural habitats with some wetlands. We had some good birding there and last night I posted photos of a few more of the birds we saw. We also saw a few interesting plants, especially the Sacred Lotus. This is one of my favourite things to photograph in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera "The pods/seed heads contain the Lotus seeds within little circular chambers on the flat surface of the top of the pod. These circles appeared to cradle the seeds, which are round, within the pod until fully ripe. Both the chamber of each seed and the seed itself get larger and larger until the pod bends over to finally release the seeds into the water." www.flowersociety.org/lotus-plant-study.htm "The Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The swamp is located on the east coast of Trinidad, immediately inland from the Manzanilla Bay through Biche and covers over 60 square kilometres (23 mi). The Nariva Swamp is extremely biodiverse. It is home to 45 mammal species, 39 reptile species, 33 fish species, 204 bird species, 19 frog species, 213 insect species and 15 mollusc species. All this contained in just 60 square kilometers. The area provides important habitat for waterfowl and is key habitat for the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), caimans, anacondas, boa constrictors, red howler monkeys, white-fronted capuchin monkeys, numerous species of parrots, including both the blue-and-gold macaw and red-bellied macaws, as well as many wetland and savanna birds. Four major wetland vegetation types occur in the Nariva Swamp - mangrove swamp forest, palm forest, swamp wood, and freshwater marsh." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nariva_Swamp www.destinationtnt.com/nariva-swamp/ This is a video that I found on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it. youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M This afternoon, I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015. youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk

In the afternoon of Day 6 of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago, 18 March 2017, my friends and I visited the Nariva Swamp on the east coast of Trinidad, which is mainly agricultural habitats with some wetlands. We had some good birding there and last night I posted photos of a few more of the birds we saw. We also saw a few interesting plants, especially the Sacred Lotus. This is one of my favourite things to photograph in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. The ones we saw at Nariva Swamp had more "eyes". I have added a previously posted photo from the Zoo in a comment box below. The Zoo photo, I might add, took a few hours and a lot of patience to get! "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera "The pods/seed heads contain the Lotus seeds within little circular chambers on the flat surface of the top of the pod. These circles appeared to cradle the seeds, which are round, within the pod until fully ripe. Both the chamber of each seed and the seed itself get larger and larger until the pod bends over to finally release the seeds into the water." www.flowersociety.org/lotus-plant-study.htm "The Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The swamp is located on the east coast of Trinidad, immediately inland from the Manzanilla Bay through Biche and covers over 60 square kilometres (23 mi). The Nariva Swamp is extremely biodiverse. It is home to 45 mammal species, 39 reptile species, 33 fish species, 204 bird species, 19 frog species, 213 insect species and 15 mollusc species. All this contained in just 60 square kilometers. The area provides important habitat for waterfowl and is key habitat for the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), caimans, anacondas, boa constrictors, red howler monkeys, white-fronted capuchin monkeys, numerous species of parrots, including both the blue-and-gold macaw and red-bellied macaws, as well as many wetland and savanna birds. Four major wetland vegetation types occur in the Nariva Swamp - mangrove swamp forest, palm forest, swamp wood, and freshwater marsh." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nariva_Swamp www.destinationtnt.com/nariva-swamp/ This is a video that I found on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it. youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M This afternoon, I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015. youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk

In the afternoon of Day 6 of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago, 18 March 2017, my friends and I visited the Nariva Swamp on the east coast of Trinidad, which is mainly agricultural habitats with some wetlands. We had some good birding there and last night I posted photos of a few more of the birds we saw. We also saw a few interesting plants, especially the Sacred Lotus. This is one of my favourite things to photograph in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera "The pods/seed heads contain the Lotus seeds within little circular chambers on the flat surface of the top of the pod. These circles appeared to cradle the seeds, which are round, within the pod until fully ripe. Both the chamber of each seed and the seed itself get larger and larger until the pod bends over to finally release the seeds into the water." www.flowersociety.org/lotus-plant-study.htm "The Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The swamp is located on the east coast of Trinidad, immediately inland from the Manzanilla Bay through Biche and covers over 60 square kilometres (23 mi). The Nariva Swamp is extremely biodiverse. It is home to 45 mammal species, 39 reptile species, 33 fish species, 204 bird species, 19 frog species, 213 insect species and 15 mollusc species. All this contained in just 60 square kilometers. The area provides important habitat for waterfowl and is key habitat for the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), caimans, anacondas, boa constrictors, red howler monkeys, white-fronted capuchin monkeys, numerous species of parrots, including both the blue-and-gold macaw and red-bellied macaws, as well as many wetland and savanna birds. Four major wetland vegetation types occur in the Nariva Swamp - mangrove swamp forest, palm forest, swamp wood, and freshwater marsh." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nariva_Swamp www.destinationtnt.com/nariva-swamp/

For many years, I was fascinated by these seedpods, but had only seen them when they had turned dark brown and were included in flower arrangements. I was thrilled to bits when I knew they were growing at the Calgary Zoo and I could see them at all different stages. This photo was taken the day before yesterday, 6 October 2014, when I got to the Zoo for the second time since the Flood of the Century in June 2013. The tiny indoor pond where this was growing had just the one plant in it, unlike before the flood, when there were several. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera "The pods/seed heads contain the Lotus seeds within little circular chambers on the flat surface of the top of the pod. These circles appeared to cradle the seeds, which are round, within the pod until fully ripe. Both the chamber of each seed and the seed itself got larger and larger until the pod bent over to finally release the seeds into the water." www.flowersociety.org/lotus-plant-study.htm

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! Photographed at the Calgary Zoo on 10th September 2011., this enormous flower of the Sacred Lotus is so beautiful. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera

These beautiful seedpods of the Sacred Lotus are one of my favourite things to photograph at the Calgary Zoo. The tropical flowering shrub in the background created a bit of bokeh to add colour to the image. Macro photo taken in the ENMAX Conservatory on 9 August 2012. "The pods/seed heads contain the Lotus seeds within little circular chambers on the flat surface of the top of the pod. These circles appeared to cradle the seeds, which are round, within the pod until fully ripe. Both the chamber of each seed and the seed itself got larger and larger until the pod bent over to finally release the seeds into the water." www.flowersociety.org/lotus-plant-study.htm

Feel like I'm in some humid, tropical setting when I look at this photo - and, indeed, I was : ) No expensive, exotic holiday needed - just a drive over to the Calgary Zoo, on 1st September 2011. Love it when the sprinkler/mister comes on, though it is far from pleasant and comfortable whilst in the butterfly room (open only in the summer months). This is one of the Sacred Lotus seedpods that were there.

I keep coming across yet another photo of a Sacred Lotus seedpod - sorry to bore you with these : ) I just find them so fascinating and beautiful. Sometimes, I have caught them when they were bright green, but this one is older and has turned brown. Photographed at the Calgary Zoo on 23rd August 2011.

I have just received an e-mail telling me that our good friend Doug (Flickr member dougwaylett) collapsed today and is in the Trauma unit. Please join me in sending strong thoughts and prayers his way, and also for his wife, Flo .... Thinking of you both! Stay strong, Doug! There are more rare lichens out there for you to still discover! Update 8:00 p.m. - apparently, Doug has now been moved to a different ward, and I'm so hoping that this is good news. Update before I go to bed: Doug's wife was eventually located and told. When I was given this last update, Flo was at the Hospital with her hubby, thank goodness. Doug had been moved from the Trauma Unit to Intensive Care. Doug, hope you are able to get a good night's sleep and we all hope you are a little stronger tomorrow. We are all thinking of you! You, too, Flo! UPDATE on Doug, next day, Sunday: it is with great sadness that I have to let people know that good friend Doug Waylett passed away today. Apparently, he had just given a talk in the herbarium at the University of Calgary yesterday and was looking at some lichens, when he had a massive heart attack. This will be a tremendous loss, not just personal, but Doug was a great source of information on plants, lichens and fungi. His passing leaves a huge void, especially for those who knew him well here in Calgary. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Flo, and their family.

Photographed at the Calgary Zoo on 11th September 2011. The enormous flower of the Sacred Lotus is so beautiful. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera

I have always loved Lotus seedpods, but only ever saw the dark brown, dried ones that you sometimes see in flower arrangements. The one in my photo belongs to an amazing Sacred Lotus that is growing at the Calgary Zoo (not in bloom now).

"The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera For this special International Day of Peace, I'm using this image of a recent Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) that bloomed at the Calgary Zoo, to symbolize PEACE - that is so desperately needed in so many parts of the world. Of course, in an ideal world, every day should be an International Day of Peace : ) I couldn't add the title to the black frame as I have somehow messed up PhotoShop Elements and can't add text into the textbox : )

Photographed this huge bud of the Sacred Lotus against one of its enormous leaves, at the Calgary Zoo on September 1st. "The lotus was of great significance to many ancient cultures, and in particular to the Eastern religions. From ancestral times, the lotus regularly appears as a symbol of purity, peace, transcendence, enlightenment, rebirth, beauty, and fertility. In India, the lotus flower is considered to be of divine origin and is viewed as sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. Buddha was said to sleep on a lotus six months of the year, and Shambala (Buddhist heaven) is sometimes represented as a field of flowering sacred lotuses." Taken from the first link below. www.holisticaroma.co.uk/shp/TheSacredLotus.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera

I have always loved the large seedpod of the beautiful Sacred Lotus, but have usually seen it only in its dried, dark brown state, when it is often used in flower arrangements. Lol, I felt as if 20 eyes were watching me while I was taking photos of this beauty at the Calgary Zoo three days ago. Yesterday, I picked up the estimate for building a ground-level, cedar deck to cover the whole of my tiny 16'x18' backyard. It is on a bit of an incline, so that would give extra work of course, plus the plants/shrubs in my two small borders would have to be removed first. However, the total cost would be almost $10,000!! Can you imagine? So, I am back to square one again - just as I am with the sale of my brother's house in England, when the buyer backed out a few months after putting in his original offer. The only reason I thought about a wooden ground-level deck was that I had been unable to find anyone who would come and remove all plants/shrubs and put down netting and wood chips, as I just can't cope with a garden, even a small one. It seems no one wants a one-time-only piece of work - they all seem to want a job that is weekly or at least monthly ... sigh. Lol, I'm beginning to feel as if I'm taking one step forward and six steps back these days! Lots of interesting information about the Sacred Lotus on Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera Also a link to an interesting article in the Calgary Herald newspaper from 22nd July 2011. www.calgaryherald.com/news/todays-paper/Secrets+sacred+lo...