Figure 1 – Alien worlds within our own #2, Lotus Shoots perforating the surface. Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Concord, MA. (c) DE Wolf 2021.

I wanted today to continue on the theme of Alien Worlds within Our own. Figure 1 shows some lotus plant stalks perforating the surface at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, MA last winter. I have noticed that lotuses do everything possible to maximize having the seed pods face downward once they are ripe; so as to have the seeds settle to the bottom. The seem grabbed and reminded me of some science fictions movies, Aliens, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and perhaps Anaconda.

As it turns out, this year has been a disaster for the lotuses at the GMNWR. They are devastated by spring flooding, and no blooms are to be found!

Canon T2i with EF 170 to 200 mm f/4 LUSM lens at 200 mm, ISO 800, Aperture Priority AE Mode 1/640th sec at F/7.1 with no exposure compensation.