Sacred Lotus seedpod

Three more photos in the Notes: Sacred Lotus bud, flower and seedpod with butterfly.

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. I came across this image recently when going through a few archives, and thought I'd post it. Lol, I think I'm already feeling green-deprived, thanks to our heavy snowfall this past weekend.

"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