Did you ever see giant lily pads up close?

I’ve been looking at these lilies all summer and focusing on their brilliant flowers.

Since the flowers are mostly gone, my camera was attracted to the structure of the actual leaves.

Without the flowers, the photojournalist (moi) was able to see the reflections in the water and how the lily pads inhabit the pool in which they live.

Sometimes life is all about perspective.

Here’s a lengthy explanation about the Victoria amazonica, which these appear to be. The photos were taken at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illininois.