French Impressionist Claude Monet painted about 250 pictures of water lilies. Some are detailed and realistic; others — especially those painted after his eyesight began to fail — are softer and dreamlike.
But his water lilies are always fresh, radiant, and timeless. And none of his images are wilted.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a wilted water lily.
This time of year, along streams and lakes, every blossom looks flawless. And that’s not just my imagination. Understand that each flower lasts only three or four days and then, it disappears.
Here’s how it works: when a bloom first opens, it functions as female, ready to receive pollen. After pollination, the flower shifts to male, releasing its pollen for the insects to carry away. The petals may droop or change color slightly, but we won’t see them wither in place.
Instead, once the seeds begin to develop, the stem contracts — sometimes even coils — drawing the flower underwater to protect the seeds from hungry mouths. Eventually, the blossom disintegrates, and the seeds may drift upward, carried off by moving water.
So for now, these living water lilies are ours to enjoy... perfect, yet fleeting. Before long, they’ll vanish beneath the surface, leaving us to rely on the canvases of Monet to remind us how fresh and beautiful they once were.
