Thistle with Tiny Beetle Pollinators

Thistle with beetle pollinators at Big Bear Lake, California.  The beetles are as much fun as the thistle!

Lotus Blossom

Lotus Blossom in the pond in front of the Aboretum, Balboa Park, San Diego, California. They don't bloom for long but they are certainly dramatic while they last.

The Chinese Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin was said to have descended in a lotus blossom, as she came to relieve suffering. Kwan Yin is often seen with a water jar in her right hand and a willow branch in her left. Her crown may often have the figure of the Amitabha Buddha, her teacher before she reached nirvana.