As a Glenville student of Forestry and a nature lover, I was naturally intrigued by the article, "The Enchanted Realm of Water Lilies and Lotuses," by Zio Baritaux. (Any plant 'enchanting' enough to be the name sake for a luxury British sports car is worth learning more about, right?) The article didn't mention cars, but it did talk quite a bit about naked ladies, so it's mystique remains.
The article attempts to distance itself from the traditional image of water lilies with its claim, "Unlike the idyllic Monet landscapes we often associate with water lilies..." (Baritaux). Despite this, the images shared instantly called to my mind all the Monet paintings I studied in Art History. I found them all beautiful. The article goes on to contrast Monet's lilies to real ones by stating, "these floating realms suggest something lurking under the surface, a threshold to the unknown," (Baritaux). I suggest that is is not in spite of their mysteriousness, but because of it that people continue to find Monet's paintings - and lilies and lotus so intriguing.
When I was 6 years old, my family moved into a house set deep into the Taunnes Mountains of Hesse, Germany. Our home came with a ornamental pond that had long been neglected. Instead of clear water that allowed a view of koi, lilies and other water plants floated above dark, murky water filled with things unknown. We came to learn that this small pond held a complete biosphere of plants and creatures, my most favorite of which were the salamanders. The lily pads also provided shelter to the little grass snakes that came to drink. Every year, frogs and toads came to decorate the pond with garlands of spawn. Once, we even watched a fire salamander lay her eggs in the water (this is a rare sight to see.)
My point is, the strange, the hidden, and the mysterious aren't always something to be afraid of. Sometimes, they are magical. "What is it about water lilies and lotuses that pull at the edges of our imagination?" (Baritaux). What indeed? Is it the flowers themselves, or is it what lies beneath? Like the autosterogram books, water lilies leave me looking beyond them for what I can see behind them. Either way, I find them peaceful.
Happy 6th week of college, everyone! I can hardly believe how fast time flies. This evening, I read the Medium article, "What Are Mini Books and Why You Should Publish Them?” . I thought it made some valid points. I believe reading is essential. When one is a well read individual, it improves his or her abiltiy to relate to his or her peers. As it often pulls from literature, being well read also allows one to better appreciate various forms of entertainment. Reading a book that others also read or have read is means of social connection. Unfortunately, in today’s world, our time is limited. So many demands are placed upon our time, we often don't have the leisure time required to become fully engrossed in a lengthy novel. Despite this, there is a solution: mini books. (I, a lover of all things miniature, am intrigued by this concept.) "Mini books are designed to be consumed in one or two sittings, which is exactly what today’s busy readers love” (Thompson). Do ...
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