I commented that I am doing a gardening course in the mornings fridays at the Botanical Garden of the Mérida city. This course is a great, because I have learned a few things about different plant species, such as, for example, the grafts of bamboo and roses, Acodos aerial and ground for shrubs and trees, preparation of substrate (that is the mixture of land on which is sown plants), among other activities.
Although, apart from this, one of the things I like to do is a tour of the facilities of the garden, since they are very large and almost in their entirety are covered with green areas, which offers an environment of tranquility which is also excellent to take some pictures.
That was how I stumbled upon a lotus flower that had surfaced very early, when the first rays of the sun were on the pond in which I found, to my luck, there was Ender Fernández, one of the botanical in the garden; he explained some of the details of this flower, as for example, that its scientific name is "NELUMBO NUCIFERA" and florea usually in late summer, is known as the flower of a day, that is to say, that opens at dawn and at night disappears.
Pic: Pink Lotus, at the Botanical Garden of Mérida.
This Flower needs an environment with a lot of moisture, that is to say, needs a lot of water to survive, for this is own of ponds, lagoons and swamps. But, although the water of these environments may appear cloudy, the plant does not grow if the water is not "purified" natural water but it is clean and in constant movement, in addition to that needs to be in a well-balanced ecosystem, in contact with other plants and animals (like fish and turtles); one of the advantages is that this plant can support different types of PH in the soil. A good indicator that a lotus plant is healthy, it is the shape and color of the leaves, a lotus plant in good condition can give several flowers and fruits.
Pic: Lotus leaves, round and green.
The lotus flower is reproduced by seeds like any other plant, but also thanks to the rhizomes that it possesses. A rhizome is a stem horizontally that goes on the soil surface and is hollow, since by this hole is where carries oxygen to the roots that will emerge from the same rhizome and serve as an anchor for the plant. Subsequently, the stem is erect several centimeters to give way to the leaves and flower buds.
Pic: Ender Fernández, Botanical of the Garden, holds a Rhizome of the Lotus plant.
This flower has a lot of mystique with him, since in various cultures such as Chinese, Egyptian and Indian is revered for being a symbol of spiritual purity and reincarnation, in fact, also called the sacred Lotus and it is very important in Buddhism because they represent the purity of body and soul. Therefore, in the Asian religions is usually represented to the divinities sitting in lotus flowers. It is used to meditate, call the self-control, purify environments because they called to peace and calm. When this flower opens, is associated with the abundance and good energies.
Grows Strong, due to its beauty is imposed to your environment, however, is a sensitive and delicate plant, for what it represents hardness but at the same time brittleness.
Ender Fernandez.
There are different varieties of lotuses with different colors, and each has a meaning. The Blue Lotus represents wisdom and knowledge; the white lotus represents the purity of mind and spiritual perfection; the lotus purple, is one of the most difficult to find, is characterized by having eight petals and represents the illumination; the red lotus is associated with love and compassion and the Lotus Pink, as portrayed in this post, it is known as the supreme lotus flower, is the most important of all.
Pic: Sacred Lotus in a balanced ecosystem
That's all for now friends, certainly a very beautiful flower don't you think?
I hope you have enjoyed reading me, I will back soon with another publication. Until next time!
The photos were taken with the camera on my cell phone: Huawei Ascend G630
References:
Fernández, E. Entrevista. Mérida, Venezuela. Mayo 25, 2018.
Lyle, S. (Enero 21, 2012). Flor de Loto y sus Características. Junio 08, 2018, de Arte y Jardinería Sitio web: http://www.arteyjardineria.com/2012/01/flor-de-loto.html
Sánchez, M.. (Febrero 5, 2017). La Belleza de la Flor de Loto. Junio 8, 2018, de Jardinería On Sitio web: https://www.jardineriaon.com/la-belleza-de-la-flor-de-loto.html