between scorching hot summer temperatures and all of the upheaval with our home improvements it had been four weeks since we last visited the aquatic gardens…
instead of a packed parking lot like at the end of July we were one of just a handful of visitors bright and early on Sunday…
even though there were fewer blooms than earlier in the summer the lotuses (loti) did not disappoint standing tall in the morning light with pearls of dew sparkling like diamonds…
there were lots of handsome lotus pods with their rattly black seeds…
and a fair number of fresh buds too…
the bees seemed extra busy…
this visit the tropical ponds really captured my attention…
the plants in these ponds have to be overwintered in greenhouses each year since they are not natives…
we were lucky to catch the big Victoria amazonica water lily in bloom as it only opens when it is cooler in the mornings and closes in the midday heat…
in the photo above you get an idea of how tall the loti are this time of year… surpassing Mr Magpie’s 6 foot 7 inches (measurement INCLUDES the FRED water bottle on his head)…
each visit to this national park is a delight with beauty and wonder at every turn (this was our fourth visit this summer)…
with dew soaked shoes we headed back to Virginia by way of PAUL’s and had a yummy bite to eat…
joining everyone over at Elizabeth’s Altered Book Lover for T Stands for Tuesday…
and offering another digital piece combining my photo and artwork for Art Journal Journey’s NATURE’S WONDERS theme ~♥~ thank you for your visit
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Wow, Patty, what a wonderful post! Love all the photos, I would love to visit those aquatic gardens, so beautiful. I had no idea the flowers were so HUGE! Your tea break looked good too, yummy. And thanks for another fantastic Patty Page for AJJ! Happy T Da, Hugs, Valerie
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Your beautiful photos brought some fresh air to the 92 degrees’ weather here… The stop at Paul’s seems yummy. Happy T Day, Patty xo
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What an amazing place! So cool. Love your hybrid page as well.
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OK, I had to read this post twice. Those Amazonian waterlilies amazed me. As does the loti. Actually I thought of you because the post office just put out a new set of stamps for the National Parks 100th anniversary (which is this Thursday) and one of the stamps is of these gardens. I thought that was cool. Now I didn’t know lotus grew that tall. Wow. Beautiful art too.Happy T day. Hugs-Erika
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Gorgeous photos as always – enjoy xx
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breathtaking photos of the gorgeous loti and gardens Patty. I can just imagine what it must be like to be there to take in all that glory. Had NO clue some varieties were SO big and tall-wow! And what a lovely meal to end your visit-it all looks yummy! Beautiful rendering of your art and photo too. Happy T day!
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Wow, Patty, I would love to visit those gardens and see those beautiful water blooms as well as all the other fantastic things you showed in the photos. I love your art page with your art and digital combined and at the end of your day the meal of course looks yummy.
Happy T day.
Yvonne xx
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As always, your gorgeous photos take center stage and tell it all. I was not only impressed that the loti were that tall, but how you got to see the Victoria amazonica water lily in bloom. Stunning photos had me clicking on each of the pictures with glee.
That was some lunch, too. Is this the same one you visited before? Make mine egg and mushroom croissant and I’ll be happy. And of course, I’ll join you for a cappuccino. Thanks for sharing these lovely gardens and your trip to Paul for T this Tuesday.
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Some of those water lilies are like ones at a nature center here. They are beautiful, aren’t they! They take over if you let them if they like the climate. Paul’s might could be renamed “Perfect Paul’s”. That food looks delicious!
Happy T Tuesday
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Thank you and your husband for taking us on another wonderful journey. The water lilies are so beautiful.
Hugs
FredaB
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Oh Patty! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this awesome wonderful terrific photos today — unique and I loved to see Mr.Magpie appearing as a human loti…lol!
The page you made is just brilliant …
the most wonderful post I have seen today.. and I visited many -lol!
Thank you for not just making me happy about the photos and your brilliant art – but also that you linked this wonderful post and page to AJJ♥♥♥
oxo Susi
Wishing a wonderful rest of the week and I hope to see some photos soon from your new renovated porch!
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What beautiful photos. I love those lotus flowers. Aren’t they huge! I hadn’t realized had you not put ‘Fred’ there for comparison. The flowers are stunning and the pods almost as beautiful. The victoria lilies remind me of my childhood when my grandma used to take me to the botanical gardens and I remember the staff telling me that the large leaves could hold a small child (to stand on). That sure impressed me as a child (don’t know if it is true).
Thanks for sharing all that beauty,
Happy T-Day and a good week ahead,
Lisca
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Absolutely, astoundingly amazing! Such a magical place – no wonder you love to visit there! Your journal page is equally fabulous!
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Seeing Mr. Magpie in the photo really brought home how tall they are!!
Beautiful gardens and artwork. Yummy food, too. 🙂
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Stunning photos! All that fabulous green, pods and flowers,wow such beauty! Thanks for sharing in such a beautiful way as you do! Your art piece is class and rich, what an amazing post, full of nature’s wonders for sure!
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Oh my, such a stunning place to visit! The gardens appear to be such a tranquil and peaceful haven, it must have been wonderful especially with all your recent renovations! I would happily stay there and soak up the beauty of the Loti, dragonflies and other spectacular plants – and those giant green pads in the tropical ponds looks like tea trays – magnificent! I always love Paul’s, the food is fantastic – great choice! Thanks very much for taking me on such a fantastic day out, I really enjoyed it :-). Your digital page captures the beauty of the lotus flower so well, I love the elegance you have created with this image and your colour choice is perfect, very stylish and beautiful! Wishing you a very Happy T Day! J 🙂
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This is such an amazing place!!!! I understand why you love it so!
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I love your visits to gardens, so much sun and light and beautiful perfect flowers and leaves. Special favourites are the pure white egret and those amazing seed pods, and I say again, your mosaics are out-of-this-world beautiful.
Your digital painting is lovely too.
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Lovely photos Patty. Lotus pods are so beautifully sculptural. There is a town not far from here called Kenilworth, where there is a very good art gallery.
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Beautiful pictures Patty! Oh yes – I well remember your first visit to Paul’s. If I enjoy anything it’s looking at pictures of delicious food that other people get to enjoy!!
Beautiful page Patty – I just wish I understood this “digital” art work. I know that Valerie uses a lot of “hybrid digital” pieces and I have no idea what she means by this.
I am so excited – I have started an art journal and even entered into Art Journal Journey. As a newbie, I can tell that this is going to be soooo much fun and I have sooooo much to learn!
Sandy xx
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Just gorgeous Lotus, and photos of the seed pod heads, amazing. Does this place have a bench with your name on it yet? If not it should. xox
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Yoo! Hoo! Jim, I see you!! This looks so beautiful and I am glad you took us back there! That meal at Pauls looks yummy! Hugs , Chrisx
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Great photos again of your latest visit ♥ Love the art you created with your photo ♥♥♥♥ It so delicate and beautiful.
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Gorgeous flowers and photos Patty, the Loti are so beautiful and so varied, the seed heads remind me of shower heads.
Loved the photo showing the dewdrop and the light through the leaf showing the veins.
And I really adore your soft and dreamy hybrid AJJ piece too 🙂
Thank you for the lovely comments about the ‘Harold and Madge’ post.
I think the birds tell all their friends where to come for food and that’s the only reason we get so many. I understand about the chills, when I was about 5, I was feeding some baby swans at a l lake when their parents appeared and flapped their wings and knocked me into the water. I was wary of birds for a while.
And I must admit I don’t like that scene in Home Alone with all the pigeons in the park – eek!
Hope your week going well ……….Gill x
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Such beautiful photos Patty! Thank you for sharing them.
Alison xxx
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beautiful photos dear patty,i love the garden too mthe color of the flowers realy wonderful,thanks for sharing this beauty.
have a great weekend,dear patty.
hugs jenny
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Wonderful photos show all the beauty in nature – we should be glad to see. This garden is the paradies, isn’t it? I admire your beautiful digital piece you made with this lotus!
hugs rike
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Amazing photo’s. It must be something special to see all of those lotus flowers blooming in the ponds. I like the flowers but I like the seed pods as well. Even the leaves with water drops are fascinating. Thanks for giving me a chance to study them from home.
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Oh what a flood of amazing photos, it is breathtaking nice. I love each of them. Your meal looks yummy and very healthy. All the different kinds of Loti are so wonderful to see, and the funny Loti Elf with the waterbottle on his head is great. 😉 The seed pods are also very decorative whether in fresh or dry state.
Hugs
Sabine
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Gorgeous, Patty. Dazzled by all the beauty – and now a little hungry, too! Very lovely photos!
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Amazing photographs and it looks like a wonderful place to visit.
The digital journal page is so beautiful
Love Chrissie xx
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Oh my goodness… I want to come over and visit that place… so beautiful! Thanks for taking me on this nature-journey, even if it is in virtual life! The weather cooled down a bit and it’s a beautiful day here in MiDDELburg – hope your day is as lovely too. Have a great weekend sweetie, hug from Zeeland!
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Wow Patty, that looks like an incredible place and what gorgeous exotic flowers and plants. Stunning, I LOVE what you did with the photo and digital work too.
Hugs June x
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Oh my goodness – I never would have known those plants could grow that big , and those seed pods are amazing. I’ve seen them in dried floral arrangements here but didn’t know what they were.
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Absolutely stunning photos of stunning nature! Patty, your posts never disappoint! Thank you so much for sharing such beauty!
xoxo
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