Suiren (water lily) flower: Kita-kamakura

Flowers are the silent storytellers that tell the tales of life and reincarnation on this small planet called the Earth.

Plants and trees bear flowers in the circulation of the seasons to begin their short but earnest reproductive activity, and eventually, within a few days, their flowers complete their mission of life and quickly disappear without leaving any traces. 

The year-round lives of plants and trees are the long and patient preparation for their flowers as the organs for renewed growth and survival, and when their flowering is completed, they must return to a long stillness in their unremarkable figures.

As if to herald the beginning of the dazzling summer, a lovely flower of water lily has bloomed in my humble garden again this year. Before my eyes, the cycle of reincarnation is presenting itself secretly and this precious flower is quietly revealing the private story of life on this planet of water.

 

Hangesho (Chinese lizard's tail) and water lily flowers: Kaizo-ji

 

Water lily flower: Kita-kamakura

As if to make me aware of the stealthy arrival of early summer, the adorable flower of the water lily is blooming like a newborn child on the calm water surface in my small water-lily bowl this year again.

The lifetime of this flower is about four days and it repeatedly opens in the early morning and closes in the afternoon in response to temperature changes. The tender flower that appears on the first morning is especially enchanting, which always makes me sense the mystery of life in the rapid rotating of the seasons.

In the microcosm of the small water-lily bowl, this flower shows its changing appearance every morning, as if to suggest a piece of poetry about the birth and impermanence of a living thing, and eventually fades away like an ephemeral dream.

Water lily flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

 

Water lily flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

 

Water lily flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

 

Water lily pond: Kaizo-ji

 

Water lily flower: Kita-kamakura

 

Water lily flower: Ofuna Botanical Garden (Kamakura)

 

Water lily flower: Kita-kamakura

In spring, temperate water lilies awaken from their winter sleeping and slowly grow their round leaves in the water in response to the gradual increase of temperature and the sunlight. 

In the course of time, their flower buds appear in the water and begin to grow and rise toward the surface of the water. Eventually, these flower buds emerge from the calm water surface to open and bloom like the little water sprites that show themselves before the beginning of the rainy season.

As the temperature rises in the morning sun, the flower petals slowly open, and in the afternoon, when the sunlight gets weaker and the temperature becomes lower, they close gradually. 

This opening and closing process is repeated for about three days, and then the flowers fulfill their roles and die.

A golden killifish is staring fixedly at the newborn flower as if to be enchanted by the magic spell of this water fairy. 

Water lily flowers: Kaizo-ji

Water lily flowers: Kaizo-ji

Water lily flowers: Kaizo-ji

Water lily flower: Kaizo-ji

Water lily flower: Engaku-ji

Water lily flowers: Sankei-en (Yokohama)

Suiren (water lily) flower: Kita-kamakura

The colorful flowers of spring, which once dominated this world entirely, have vanished away almost completely.

The gentle hills of Kita-kamakura are thickly covered with rich green of lively trees and plants.

Insects and birds are moving about hurriedly to prepare for the approaching of the rainy season.

The migratory birds of summer are now arriving here from the south.
Their sweet songs of courting can be heard here and there in the fragrant air of the jade green hills.

Again this year, water lily flowers bloomed on the water surface of a small basin in my garden.

Garden: Kaizo-ji

Water lily flowers in Kaizo-ji

The pale golden flowers of Suiren (water lily) are floating peacefully on the calm surface of the pond.

The cool gentle breeze is wafting in from the green hill at the back to soothe the scorching heat of this dazzling garden of summer.

A water lily flower in Kita-kamakura

When the rainy season sets in, the gentle flower of Suiren rises to the water surface as if to give this moist season a hearty welcome.

As the name "Suiren (sleeping lotus)" suggests, this short-lived aquatic flower repeats its opening in the morning and closing in the late afternoon for about 4 days.

Day by day, this flower changes its figure by bits like a growing nymph under the rainy sky.