A photo from the Botanical Garden of Helsinki, from the water lily house. The leaf of the Giant Water lily can grow to two metres in diameter and is capable of supporting the weight of a fully grown person.
The water lily
Victoria is a genus of water lilies, in the plant family Nymphaeaceae, with very large leaves that float on the water's surface. The most well known and largest has a leaf that is up to 3 m in diameter, on a stalk 7–8 m in length. The genus name was given in honour of Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Victoria amazonica is native to the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin, such as oxbow lakes and bayous. It is depicted in the Guyanese coat of arms. The flowers are white the first night they are open and become pink the second night. They are up to 40 cm in diameter, and are pollinated by scarab beetles.
Another species, Victoria cruziana, in the Parana-Paraguay basin which is only slightly smaller, with the underside of the leaves purple rather than the red of V. amazonica, and covered with a peachlike fuzz lacking in V. amazonica. V. cruziana opens its flowers at dusk.
The first published description of the genus was by John Lindley in 1837, based on specimens returned from British Guiana by Robert Schomburgk. Lindley named the genus after the new Queen, Victoria, and the species Victoria regia. An earlier account of the species, Euryale amazonica Poeppig, in 1832 described an affinity with Euryale ferox. A collection and description was also made by the French botanist Aimé Bonpland in 1825.
The Botanical Gardens
The University of Helsinki Botanical Garden at Kaisaniemi is one of Helsinki's most popular visitor attractions. The Garden is situated very close to the city centre, and its glasshouses and surrounding grounds offer nature lovers a unique experience all year round. The gallery between the large and small glasshouses is used to host temporary exhibitions, mostly on themes related to nature.
The peace and quiet of the Botanic Garden in Kaisaniemi can be reached either from the busy Unioninkatu street or from the adjoining Kaisaniemenranta road. In summertime, perhaps the most attractive part of the grounds is the central garden, an open area with ponds and flowers, bordered by the glasshouses and rose bushes. The well-established trees in the outer parts of the grounds provide welcome shade in the summer heat, a pleasant place to sit and read, to enjoy a picnic or to listen to the birds. Squirrels, hedgehogs, hares, and colourful butterflies can also be seen in the grounds. (Source: Finnish Museum of Natural history, University of Helsinki & wikipedia)
Critiques | Translate
saylan-cb (12738) 2009-04-09 2:47
This photo is perfect with great capture and nice reflection.I like the light and frame here.
Adrian_S (1179) 2009-04-09 3:02
They almost look like blankets, not leafs. Never seen something like this. I'm only used to the classical image of a leaf supporting a frog :). Not only an interesting subject, but also a nice reflection.
All the best
Photo65Net (43120) 2009-04-09 3:30
I like your compo with the curves and colors.
Nice job too on reflections.
Have a nice day,
snunney (101674) 2009-04-09 3:53
Something I always associate with Monet, water lilies. Very good composition under a fine light. The green tones of the massive lilly pads are brought out to good effect. Some interesting reflections complete a fine image.
TGULUMSER (13252) 2009-04-09 4:15
Amazing water lilies, very interesting and nice. The shot is full of beauties,
amaryllis (37039) 2009-04-09 5:33
une tres belle capture de ces feuilles géantes vertes, les diamètres d'après ta note sont considérables mais on peut remarquer que les couleurs sont superbes, de beaux reflets également
excellente composition and a nice day
Gerrit (52097) 2009-04-09 7:41
Fine composition with those huge drifting leaves.
The reflections form a fine addition.
vasilpro (41619) 2009-04-09 8:21
Very nice photo with perfect light management, nice reflections and vivid colors. Interesting plants and useful notes.
livermore (1631) 2009-04-09 9:00
Jolie photo, agréable à regarder, reposante avec un cadrage équilibré.
dareco (17134) 2009-04-09 13:55
A very beautiful 'garden'. Very nice colors and detail. A wonderful mood to this. TFS
ChrisJ (116098) 2009-04-09 18:56
Strange to see these giant tropical Amazonia lilies, in cold Finland. I've seen them in Thailand. Good lighting contrasts, sharpness & repetition of their circular shapes. Tfs, & have a great Easter!
hay_kes (31435) 2009-04-09 22:59
What a stunninig image vith different composition.TFS.
Have a nice day,
Graal (103034) 2009-04-09 23:27
Jó napot George,
amazing big leafs, an interesting garden and presentation. Well photojob. I like it.
jjcordier (79297) 2009-04-10 0:06
Jolie composition où tu as su bien jouer avec la position des plantes et les différentes zones de lumière.
danyy (0) 2009-04-10 0:08
moins typique de la Finlande mais tellement rempli de couleurs et de fraicheur.
Des lumières très bien calibrées créant des contrastes forts.
Beaucoup de graphisme dans la disposition des feuilles.
mikolaj_kawa (0) 2009-04-10 1:06
Hello George! Nice shot. Very nice light and shadow, ideal colours. Good sharp. Well done!
gildasjan (43654) 2009-04-10 8:02
Toujours intéressants à photographier les nénufars.Ici belle transparence sur le vert avec cette lumière.
carper (96) 2009-04-10 11:24
very artful shot here George,
good composition, fine quality job, I like it, good photo job, have a good easter.
Philippe (11836) 2009-04-10 12:58
Hi, George. The leaves of those water lilies are really impressive and their round shape gives a nice graphic aspect to your image. The other leaves in the foreground look quite tiny compared to them. The dark water makes the leaves stand well out and is a good surface for reflections.
Have a nice evening,
amazon (12112) 2009-04-10 13:47
interesting flowers...very different...
i like reflections,
thanks and have a nice weekend,
jaywalker (16101) 2009-04-11 9:14
Hi George, A lovely photo & an obvious reminder of the lilies by Claude Monet, The reflection of the greenhouse roof is superb & a wonderful addition, there is good light & beautiful detail, kind regards Wilson.
AiresSantos (56155) 2009-04-12 23:49
Fine capture of the big leaves and reflections. Great colours and details. Well framed and done
Have a nice week
ktanska (28152) 2009-04-14 0:16
Again a memory from my childhood, I definitely have to go there again.
Fascinating, huge water lilies making good circular pattern on your framing. Overexposure on the left must be really hard to avoid with wet surface reflecting direct sunlight.
paura (47186) 2009-04-30 7:40
Very beautiful composition here, friend. Great details and excellent lighting to show this well framed photography. We have lots of this kind of leaves here. Some of then able to support a man out of the water.
Thanks for sharing, friend!
- Copyright: George Rumpler (Budapestman) (82620)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2005-08-20
- Categories: Nature, Architecture
- Camera: Canon Ixus 50
- Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Theme(s): Discovery of Helsinki [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2009-04-09 2:41