Waiting for the Sun at Rockefeller State Park Preserve | Nymphaea

Hi folks. It's been a while since I wrote a blog post. But here I am :)

Over the summer, I decided it was time to start a new photography project since the life cycle of my first project A Year by the River came to an end. I invited my facebook and instagram friends to vote on 4 different projects (Capturing Light, Getting Buggy With It, Women in Nature, and Parks) and the theme capturing light won.

It has been a slow process getting into this project for one reason or another. But I did give the project a new name after one of my favorite songs by The Doors - "Waiting for the Sun".

And this blog post is my way of introducing my photo project,Waiting for the Sun, on my website! Yes, there will be a webpage dedicated to this project but for now, here goes my intro.

The Water Lily adorns Swan Lake at Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Pleasantville, New York in the summer time and isn't she just lovely.

Water Lily's begin their growth cycle under water, ascending towards the sunlight, pushing through mud and muck to reach the surface of the water where they bud and bloom.

She waits in the darkness all night long with her petals closed, resting until the morning sun rises in the sky. And then, one by one, she softly unfolds her petals to hold the sunlight of the day, inviting pollinators to come visit her home. When the dark of evening comes, her petals close up as if to say good night, literally waiting until the sun rises to begin the cycle again. Simply put, the Water Lily is Waiting for the Sun each and every night. Well... actually only for 3-5 nights because that is how long each bloom lives for.

The Water Lily’s genus, Nymphaea, derives from the Greek word for nymph — the youthful, feminine nature spirits of Greek mythology. Nymphs were believed to inhabit rivers, springs, forests, meadows, and mountains. These youthful feminine spirits were intimately connected with the natural world, embodying its beauty, vitality, and wildness. I think if i were a Nymph, it would be a Nymph of the forest or meadow. But Nympahea are specifically water Nymphs.

So many cultures have stories of how the Water Lily came to be and share certain symbolism:

🌿✨🌸 Greek mythology suggests a God caused the water lily to rise from the muddy waters after a nymph died of unrequited love, symbolizing transcendence, resilience and rebirth.

🌞🪷✨ Egyptian mythology associates the water lily with creation, cycles and rebirth. In one Egyptian creation story, the sun itself emerged from a water lily.

🌀✨🌙 The Ancient Maya associated the water lily with creation as well as transformation and a supernatural connection to the spiritual world.

✨💧⭐And the Native Americans, they told stories of how a star fell down from the sky, striking the water with the star being transformed into a flower, the water lily.

Through time and story, the Water Lily has long been a symbol of rebirth, transformation, cycles, tranquility and resilience.

And just one more fact that I found fascinating, Water Lily’s are bisexual! Meaning each flower contains a male and female part. Lincoln Park Zoo says “bisexual flowers are also referred to as androgynous or “perfect,” as they self-pollinate.” #natureisqueer

I can't think of a better subject for my intro to Waiting for the Sun. 🌿☀️