Gallery: growing in water
If salt ocean is the Great Mother from whom all life has sprung, fresh water is the Nurse entrusted to nourish life within her wanderings and around her wave-lapped margins
Henry Williamson, The Gale of the World
Water is an essential element for sustaining life. It provides a habitat for a diverse array of organisms, both in freshwater and in the sea. Aquatic plants, in particular, exhibit a remarkable diversity of form. Some plants thrive underwater, their delicate fronds swaying gently with the currents, while others display their vibrant colours on the water’s surface.
This week Denzil asks us to share images of water plants for his Nature Photo challenge (prompted in part by yours truly!) I’ve chosen to focus on two very different types of water plant, both beautiful in their own unique way: water lilies in fresh water and seaweeds in salt.
Seaweed
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us… and we drown.
T. S. Eliot
I’m no expert on seaweeds so I’ve only identified a few of these but I think they make a colourful gallery whatever their name. I find it fascinating how these marine plants come in so many vibrant shades.
Water lilies
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.
Claude Monet
I’ve bent my own definitions a little by including a few shots of lotus flowers among my waterlilies. You can identify these by the shape of the leaves. Water lily pads have a notch, while the lotus has a perfectly round lily pad. Water lilies also have leaves that float directly on the water, while lotus leaves hover above the water.
Both water lilies and lotus flowers hold a significant cultural symbolism in many parts of the world. They are often associated with purity, enlightenment and rebirth. The lotus in particular is used as a symbol of rebirth in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Unusually it manifests all its different stages of growth (bud, flower and seed pod) at the same time, echoing those religions’ beliefs in reincarnation.
My feature photo, like two of those below, was taken at Angkor Wat.
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46 Comments
TextileRanger
These are all beautiful –of the lily and lotus pictures, the one I like the best is the top left from Angkor Wat — I just love the pattern of the silvery pads receding in the green water. And I really love the seaweed pictures! I go to the coast here in Texas a lot, but I have never given the seaweed a second glance. Now you have me wondering how many species I might see!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much for dropping by and for the lovely comment 🙂 I’ll maybe see seaweed photos from you in the future?!
wetanddustyroads
The water lilies and lotuses are stunning, but who knew seaweed could be so beautiful? The colours of the seaweed in Northumberland and Kent are really lovely.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I guess it’s more usual to think of flowers as beautiful but the colours on these seaweeds can be lovely too! Glad you enjoyed them 🙂
bluebrightly
As you can imagine, it’s fun for me to see the seaweeds you have encountered. Are they all or mostly from your GB shores? The last one is wild! And we have Bladderwrack, too. 🙂 Your lotuses are lovely – who can resist them? The last two photos have such beautiful light!
Sarah Wilkie
The seaweeds should all be captioned – can you not see them (hover over each or click to open). All are from the UK apart from the two on black sand beaches in Iceland.
grandmisadventures
I love those bright pink flowers rising up out of the water- so striking and pretty! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😊 I agree, they’re really eye-catching!
bushboy
Wow Sarah, just wow 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brian 😊
tobyo
wow, wow, wow!! these are all so lovely!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m happy you like them!
leightontravels
Beautiful photos, Sarah. I especially love the ones of the seaweed on the volcanic beaches of Iceland. Your collection of water lilies and lotus flowers from various destinations is impressive. The white one (which following your instructions I identified as a water lily) you photographed in Chile stands out for me as it makes me realise why these flowers are symbols of purity. It looks so perfect and fragile.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Leighton 😀 Those Icelandic beaches are so dramatic! Yes, there’s something very peaceful about a white water lily.
sheetalbravon
Pretty pictures, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sheetal 🙂
Sofia Alves
Yay for sea weeds! And your water lilies are magnificent.
Sarah Wilkie
Happy you liked both seaweeds and water lilies Sofia 😀
Ju-Lyn
I can feel the sea breeze and taste the salt from your beach captures. An amazing variety of sea weed.
And I just love water lilies – the colours, the water upon which they grow … lovely.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh thank you Ju-Lyn, that’s really nice to hear 😊
Anita
The seaweed was indeed an exciting contrast to the beautiful water lilies. Lovely photos Sarah, all of them!
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you Anita, I really appreciate that 😊
Denzil
Thanks for expanding the theme to the sea! It made me yearn for a bit of sea air!
Sarah Wilkie
Well you did say in your post, ‘I include the sea as water too’ – that’s what gave me the idea to include the seaweeds 😀
Aletta - nowathome
What a lovely post Sarah. I love that you also included seaweed, I have totally forgotten about it.
Stunning photos!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Aletta 😊 I’m very happy you liked this!
Aletta - nowathome
You’re welcome Sarah!
restlessjo
Wow! I like your seaweed gallery but the water lilies are stunning, especially that Header.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Jo 😊 One day I must try to do the structures of Angkor Wat justice as well as its water lilies!
HeyJude
Snap with the waterlilies and the lotus flowers, but you excelled with including the seaweed.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jude – the simple truth is that I couldn’t decide which of the two to go with so I opted for both 😆
kzmcb
Lovely photo, Sarah. The contrasting colours and placement are really nice.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed this 😀
Mike and Kellye Hefner
While I find the ribbons of seaweed among the beach pebbles super interesting, I absolutely love your photos of the water lilies and lotus flowers. Beautiful job, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Kellye 😊 I think it’s hard to argue against the water lilies and lotuses being the more beautiful, at least when the seaweeds are beached like that. As Phil says below, underwater it’s a different matter, but I don’t have any photos to illustrate that!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Love the plants which grow along the tide line, limp and lifeless laying on rocks during low tide, then swirling, dancing underwater forests when the water rises. One of the joys of Cornwall, amongst many other places.
Sarah Wilkie
You’re so right, they’re like two different species in their beached and submerged states!
Marie
I love the seaweed – especially the last one – and that yellow flower….maybe because its visitor is so clear!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Marie – the visitor may be clear but I didn’t spot him till after I’d taken the shot!
margaret21
I love your seaweed images: so characterful, whereas the waterlilies are just plain – lovely.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, there’s quite a contrast between the two sets isn’t there? You had me worried for a moment though Margaret, when I thought you found the water lilies plain 😆
Sue
Stunning images, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sue 😊
Sue
You’re welcome!
Anne Sandler
Beautiful sea images. I enjoyed you lotus pictures. Land Park removed the lotus from the pond this year. How sad. So seeing yours was a treat.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂 What a shame to remove the lotus!