FOTO FRIDAY: STAGES

FOTO FRIDAY this week resulted from one of our Annual August canoe paddles to see the lilies/ lotus in the Mississippi backwaters. 
I stand corrected as here is Wikipedia's definitions of the two: "Members are commonly called lotus, though "lotus" is a name also applied various other plants and plant groups, including the unrelated genus Lotus. Members outwardly resemble those in the family Nymphaeaceae (water lilies), but Nelumbo is actually very distant to Nymphaeaceae."

We actually had seen the water lilies in full bloom in July but now we actually could see the last of the blooming ones and all their stages, so why not share, right? 

River height is obviously down

Opening & spent bloom 

Full bloom lily

Pod after  spent bloom 

Drying pod with seeds visible

Besides their beauty, the lily plants serve as food sources for young fish and aquatic insects acting also as a natural water filter. 

In all its stages the flower's beauty is amazing. Don't you agree?

Do you have some photos of a stage/stages of your choosing? A child/pet (it was National dog day), etc...

Last week I combined FOTO FRIDAY: PHOTO OP into an entry with a public servant who truly supports her public. Wisconsin's Senator Baldwin