July 16, 2011

A sacred lotus flower in Tsurugaoka-hachimangu


The long-awaited flowering season of sacred lotus has already begun.

Although the peak of summer is not yet to come, continuous blistering heat is dominating here from the beginning of July.

The magnificent flowers of sacred lotus, which represent the the true height of summer, are vigorously blossoming one after another on the surface of muddy water beneath the dazzling sun.

Generally a sacred lotus flower is about 20-30 cm in diameter. It opens early in the morning and closes at about three in the afternoon. After repeating this flowering cycle for four days, its gorgeous petals, which looks like fine woven silk, gracefully flutter down on its leaves or the water surface.

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