Sunday, August 11, 2013
Pine Buff, Arkansas

Most people will agree that when you start to hear the term “two-a-days,” fall is not far away.  I am one of those so afflicted.  It is with unashamed giddiness that I anticipate the season’s first “running through the A”.  There is, however, a far better and more dependable harbinger of fall, to wit:  the life cycle of the American Lotus.

In these parts, you begin to see the first leggy buds in June.  In a few days, you begin to see blooms, more buds, more blooms, more buds, more blooms — you get the drift.  If you are a close observer of these plants, you will notice that by around 3:15 p.m. the blooms are beginning to close for the day.  By 4:00 p.m. they are closed for business, though in daylight time, the sun will not set for several more hours.  Someone obviously forgot to tell the plants about daylight time.

'Make-Babies' Mode

By mid-to-late July, the lotus colony seriously goes into its “make-babies” mode.  The blooms drop their petals and take shape as seed pods, mature their seeds, turn brown and call it quits.  If you look closely, you can see the entire gamut of lotus life-cycle conditions in this image… well, except for a bud that I cropped out.

By the middle of July, you begin to see the trumpet-like seed pods that once were blooms.  By the first days of August, you begin to notice that the pods are now dry and brown, and the huge “lily-pad” leaves are curling up and turning brown.  By the end of August, it’s pretty well all over.  Time to call in the dogs and — in more acceptable terms — ”extinguish the fire.”  The blooms are gone, the pods are brown, and most of the leaves are curling.

From Bud to Brown

It’s August and what once was a garden spot now is a cluttered nursery up close and personal.  From left, a new pod, just recently denuded of it petals.  Second from right, the pod nurturing its growing seeds.  Center, the pod with virtually mature seeds.  Top and far right, dried pods.  From bud to brown in 90 days give or take a few standard deviations.

The show has gone on — and gone.  In 90 days or so, this perennial plant rejuvenates, dazzles us with its best, takes care of business, turns ugly, and goes into temporary retirement for nine months.  As regular as clockwork, “two-a-days” notwithstanding.  Go Hawgs!