Floating Fairy, Water Lily

Do you know where the water lily’s Japanese name, suiren (literally sleeping lotus) came from? Water lilies bloom when sunlight is strong, and close up in the evening as if they are asleep, thus the name sleeping lotus. The scientific name of the water lily is called Nymphaea. It originates from the Greek tale where the nymph, a water fairy is approached by humans and escapes into the pond by transforming into a water lily. A French impressionist artist, Claude Monet built a pond in his garden and drew a series of paintings called Water Lilies, with over 200 pieces. Like the water lily fairy, Monet may also have been captivated by the beauty of the water lily. Today, we have a special feature on illustrations with the floating, mystical water lily. Enjoy!