The lily pad that featured in a previous blog is now bearing beautiful bright white flowers with strong yellow centres. The water-lily (Nymphaea alba) or white lotus is a popular plant to decorate ponds and lakes with.

It also has some interesting medicinal properties. Within the plant are chemicals called active alkaloids which can be used to make sedatives, aphrodisiacs or even anaphrodisiacs, the opposite of aphrodisiacs. These were used by monks and nuns for hundreds of years to help them maintain their celibate lifestyle.

Bye for now,

Rhian (Seasonal Ranger)