A sad goodbye to the Los Angeles lotuses... by kimariehere
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Description
Hello All
Back in the late 80's I went to college ( lived in the girls dormitory ) right across the street from Echo park and one of the most beautiful lotus ponds in the United States . These beauty's were planted almost 90 years ago they are now gone ,a memory . Sadly, there was an insecticide was sprayed in the park a few months ago~!
That might also explain the dead red-eared slider turtle spotted floating in the water who depended on the lotuses- an ecosystem now gone do to mans idea of control ! A real tragedy that they killed off these huge and amazing Lotuses! Even if planted again it would take another 90 years or so to reach their size and beauty . Some of them were as large as melons!
One of the most popular legends about the lotus flowers of Echo park is that they were planted by Angeles Temple missionaries who brought back seeds from China. What is certain is that by the late 1920's water gardens were fashionable in Los Angeles.
Some have claimed Echo Park's lotus bed to be the largest outside of Asia, Echo Park's lotus stand, however, was undoubtedly the largest and most beautiful in the western United States.
I captured this here on a beautiful morning a few years ago when the rising sun made them light up like glowing lanterns on the water and the silhouettes of the palms reflected . Taken with my Nikon 7900 pocket cam (post work =slight sat curves, re sized and sharpened -no photo manip here). I did a painted version ( cropped ) of this back in '06 on here but never put this full version of this up . I suppose this is my way of saying goodbye to a beautiful treasured part of LA's history . I have many more pictures from that day . They mean so much to me now that they are gone. You never really fully appreciate things until they are gone do you? ...
Thanks for your time and comments!
Love to all!!!
((( BIG HUGS )))
~ Kimmers ! ♥ :O)
Comments (126)
Cullen
Kim, This probably your best post yet! Beautiful from all aspects. I hope you made a large print and framed it to hang in an honored spot!
Blush
Beautiful I love the lotus and it's ashame they are no longer there But at least you have some beautiful pics of the lotus Tell Janel I said Happy Birthday Hugs Susan~
geoegress
pretty :)
Flint_Hawk
Such a beautiful photograph! How terrible that it is only a memory now!
auntietk
This is absolutely stunning. Thank you for posting this! It's sad to know they're gone ...
amota99517
What a gorgeous shot! It's sad to hear that this is all gone now.
bobbystahr
Too sad and beautiful all at once....your end words bring Joni Mitchell to mind with "You don't know what you've got til it's gone....pave paradise...put up a parking lot".. ...
jeroni
Excellent shot,my friend,a beautiful work
bpclarke
It is sad to see these gone. Gorgeous capture and memorial to these beauties. Bunny
hotracer2
Eligant:):):)
durleybeachbum
How shocking! A very beautiful photo!
danob
Superb florals fall under the Kimmers magic touch!
lemonjim
beautiful... I think Janel should start her garden today!
goido
Lovely photo, I love the history of it also!! Echo park I heard is on the rebound!
BorisB
What a gorgeous composition, really wonderful, I like the clear reflections!!
dragonmuse
It's good you have this lovely shot to remember and share their beauty.
fairyfreak
Beautiful Lotus' indeed. How sad they are gone. ;( Man is so incredibly stupid sometimes. (far too often) Happy Birthday Janel ;-) My son is 15 tomorrow!
Nev2retour
beautiful capture !
awjay
superb
anahata.c
you do pieces sometimes that leave me wordless...The contrast between the vivid leaves & flowers and the absolutely undisturbed water is truly eye-popping. The water is all glass & reflection: It's stunning. It almost feels like a screen! And you captured flowers in every stage of bloom, miraculously, as if they put on this display just for you: You have bud to full blossom—and it's so nice you got the latter, because the lotus has one of the flattest & most effusive blossoms in the world. You probably know this, but the lotus is the symbol of Humanity in the East, "its roots in the swamp but its petals hugging heaven". (You gave us the Heaven here.) Lost life, yes: But it's shimmering, jewel-like and just gorgeous. I think of all the pictures you've posted that preserve inner beauty...and what a beautiful way to adorn your daughter's birthday.
magnus073
This is simply lovely Kimarie, you did great as usual
evielouise
well kimmers guess we should all take this photo to our favs as we might not see them again soon too sad :: Happy birthday jane 14 huh??wow I wish I was 14 again lol:: those are the years that you think you have problems and pimples and not enough clothes or something but believe me they're the best years: one day you will say that to someone else before you know it ,it goes by fast so enjoy enjoy!~~big hugs !!
Littlejock
Pure beauty again my friend. Perfect composition and colours
LudyMelltSekher
Hello my dear friend, Very Beautiful photography. Excellent!!Congratulations !!A million stars***Happy weekend. Giant kiss in Your heart.Luminous blesing. Ludy
lucindawind
this is a gorgeous photo .. its awful what mankind does to our environment !
goodoleboy
Yes, the Los Angeles Times did an article some months ago on the demise of the lovely lotuses. They assumed it was the result of insecticides, pollutants and too many incompatible life forms that did them in. Very sorry to see them go, especially since I never got a chance to photograph them. Anyway, love your capture of the flowers residing among the water reflections of the tall palm trees that adorn Echo Park, Kimmie.
DennisReed
Exquiste Beauty never to be seen again except in your beautiful photography!
Ionel
Superb picture! Bravo!!!
npauling
What a disaster that someone was so careless. I do hope they replant for future generations to come and see. This is the most wonderful capture of these beautiful flowers, what a treasure to have.
romanceworks
This is such an incredible shot of these precious and perfect lotus and to think they are now only a memory. What a sad loss. I'm so glad you have preserved their beauty forever. And a big birthday hug to Janel.:o) CC