Have you ever seen a lake of lotus flowers and their seed heads? It is hard to believe that huge pink flowers are real. The place to get the full effect of these magical flowers is the Blue Lotus Water Garden at Yarra Junction just outside Melbourne.
Lotus flowers and seed heads
When I think of lotus flowers I think of Vietnam. I Goggled ‘Vietnam and lotus’ and I discovered it was their national flower. This what the Vietnamese say about their nation flower.
Lotus flower Vietnam’s national flower
“The Lotus is a special flower as it grows and lives in mud but it still passes out of the water to catch the sun without being polluted by the surrounding mud, making it a symbol of hope and purity”
Pond with blue lotus flowers and a lotus-style fountain.
These days you often see lotus flower tattoos. Some tattoo sites say it is one of the most common form of tatts and shows an array of different ones featuring the lotus flower.
A small lotus flower tattoo courtesy of Google
I was surprised when I saw my first large pond of the plants. They do grow in very unappealing muddy water and from this mud rises a beautiful, clean and perfumed flower. It is astounding.
I may have been astounded too because there are so many fake ones around. The real ones are so much better. You can buy fake ones at the Blue Lotus Water Gardens. The seed heads are on sale too and these feel fake and you would believe they were until you see them growing in the mud. They feel like latex.
Lotus bed
Lotus flowers are edible and it is believed they have special properties that make them good for the heart, liver, kidneys and spleen. I’m not sure how you would go munching on one while you are viewing the gardens. Would it do you any harm to chomp away at a fresh one? I devoured a few pansies recently. They seemed to have no effect good or bad. It may be worth a try with a lotus flower if your spleen or kidneys need attention. I didn’t have the courage to munch on one.
Lotus flowers have become my new love. It is their beauty and the delicate perfume not their medicinal powers.
Water lily
Besides the lotus the garden grows water lilies. These are lovely too although not as spectacular as a full blown lotus. The difference between a water lily and a lotus is that the water lily leaves sit on the water and lotus rise above it.
Water lilies
Water lilies from South America
Blue Lotus Water Garden sells the plants in Burt’s Garden Shop so if you are lucky enough to have a pond you can try your hand at growing them. I understand they can become a weed so care needs to be taken.
For those of us not lucky enough to have a bit of muddy water around our homes they sell lotus perfumed candles, soap and fake flowers; both water lily and lotus. I have never been drawn to the fake ones. I have images of dusty and faded objects resting on a lily leaf on an out of the way shelf. Not the same but I guess it is a memory.
Blue Water Lotus Gardens are about a 90 minutes drive from Melbourne’s CBD. There’s a cafe as well as places to eat if you take your own picnic.
A picnic area
Where:-
The Blue Lotus Water Gardens
22628 628 Warburton Highway,
Yarra Junction
PHONE:- 5967 2061
OPEN TIMES:-
The gardens are open 7 days a week 10am – 5pm including public holidays.
ADMISSION:-
A ticket is required to access the garden, it’s facilities, seasonal cafe and attractions. Tickets are available at the ticket counter inside the main complex.
Adults: $20
Seniors/Pensioners/Student Card Holders: $17.50
Kids: Free (if under 16 years and accompanied by an adult)
NOTE: No ticket is required to access the retail nursery, Rod’s Garden Shop or the Blue Lotus Bazaar (giftshop).
WEB:-
http://www.bluelotuswatergarden.com.au/
