Friday, July 31, 2009

Pink Saturday - The Lovely Lotus, Part Two


Last week for Pink Saturday I wrote about the spunky little lotus, Momo Batan. This week I want to show you the majestic Mrs. Perry D. Slocum. In my imagination this lotus is an elegant grande dame in a pink ballroom gown!

Dr. Slocum was a pioneer in the hybridization of water lilies and lotus and named this exquisite lotus in tribute to his wife. It will grow to 6 feet tall with the blooms being held at least a foot above the pads. The pads on the plants we grew this year were up to 18 inches across with blooms nearly as big! People would see it in the nursery yard, pull over to ask what it was, then promptly buy it so that they could have one of the these giant beauties for their very own.

Mrs. Slocum is the only "changeable" lotus, its flowers are vivid pink on the first day, pale pink on the second, creamy yellow on the third and creamy white on the fourth! The picture above was taken of three blooms on the same lotus plant, and - being bog plants - they are also grown in a 7 gallon feed pan which can be placed anywhere in your garden!

We will begin anew with tubers in early spring, come join me in my obsession with the sacred lotus...

Be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for more delicious pinkness!


27 comments:

  1. Welcome to your first Pink Saturday, Paula.

    This lotus is exquisite. Thank you for sharing this fascinating information. I have a rose that changes colors each day, too.

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  2. Welcome to Pink Saturday! My goodness, that lotus is absolutely beautiful! Beyond words. Thanks for sharing its history.

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  3. Welcome to Pink Saturday, Paula! That Lotus is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  4. What a beautiful Lotus bloom! Thank You for sharing your Pink! I have a black thumb so totally admire anyone who can keep things alive.
    Happy Pink Saturday!
    Jennifer

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  5. What a beautiful lotus bloom. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Good morning Paula, your lotus flower is gorgeous and the name has interested me very much. We have a Perry's Water Garden here in Franklin NC. Their lotus flowers are just as you described today. Is there any connection I wonder. The Water Garden was closed down not too long ago. It has always been free to go in and visit. They did sell their plants world wide at one time. I am so saddened by their closing down. I once posted about this water garden some time ago.

    Have a happy Pink Saturday.

    Hugs...Jeanne

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  7. Hi Paula! Welcome to Pink Saturday! These flowers are amazing!.. as tall as cornstalks!.. but much prettier! Happy Pink Saturday, and hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend! ~tina

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  8. My dear friend...who would have guessed you just started blogging and that this is only your second Pink Saturday? Excellent and HPS!

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  9. What a stunning flower. I always thought it was so special to have a flower created just for you. I have a rose in my yard that changes into three colors. It's the prettiest one in the yard. Happy Pink Saturday and enjoy your weekend!

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  10. Welcome to Pink Saturday. I do love that flower that you displayed. Happy PS

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  11. wow..that is really special!
    Have a perfectly pink day!
    xo-Tami

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  12. A very informative and beautiful post. Glad you joined all the other pink ladies.

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  13. Love the Lotus, what a beautiful flower. Geri

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  14. Beautiful Pink Blooms! I have a pond in my backyard but, it needs to be CLEANED!!! I wish there were pretty Pink blooms on top to cover the yucky water. :)

    Welcome to Pink Saturday it is so much fun. Happy Pink

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  15. Hi Paula!!
    Welcome to Pink Saturday.
    Beautiful Lotus!

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  16. Happy PS! Love the Lotus, such a lovely pink!

    Hugs:)

    Irma

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  17. Another rainy and cloudy and dark weekend. I fear that summer is not coming to northern Michigan this year...sigh.

    With that in mind, Pink Saturday is a day that cheers me up and allows me to share a wider world than my gloomy portion.

    ♥Thank you so much for participating this week because it made my day just a little brighter♥

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  18. Great post..very informative, interesting and pretty. Hope you enjoyed your pink day.

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  19. Happy Pink Saturday!

    Very informative post I enjoyed it.


    ~ Gabriela ~

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  20. I just read a book about spies that references the lotus flower frequently. Your information is great!

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  21. It's beautiful! And a bloom as big as 18 inches? That's huge!

    Li

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  22. Very charming!
    Have a great week ahead.

    Regina

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  23. glad you've joined us for pink sat. Paula, beautiful pink post!
    Helen

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  24. Wow, that is gorgeous. I can't imagine being able to look at something so beautiful on a daily basis, Happy Pink Saturday, Char

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  25. MOM - this is a beautiful flower! Congrats on your successful new blog - I'm so glad that you can share your expertise and your passion with people! I love you!

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  26. Welcome to Pink Saturday! Lovely lotus flower post.
    Joyce M

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