It is a cold winter morning in the north of England and thoughts of sunny flowers from warmer climes are all that keep me from thinking of snow and frost.
Having just discovered the mosaic picture collages of Robynejay I thought it worth considering the Lotus. Nelumbo nucifera is also called Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus or Bean of India they are aquatic plants but they are not water lilies.

About Lotus

• The Lotus is native to India, Australia and tropical Asia.
• The plant has many religious connotations and is seen as sacred to Hindus and Buddhists.
• The seed heads are round and distinctive.
• The lotus is distantly related to Nymphaea caerulea the water lily.
• The flower heads are held above the water on strong stalks or stems.
• The range of flower colouring and petal formats is demonstrated in the montage or mosaic above.
• The seeds from the distinctive pod are edible.

Well this bright colourful flower has brightened up my morning. Now I must get out in the frost and put out some bird food.

Credit
Lotus by robynejay CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Lotus by _Virdi_ CC BY 2.0
Getting butterflies in a garden