Flora in El Dorado Hills, CA

The Lotus blossom is one of the most ephemeral of all flowers.  The Lotus plant blossoms once a year if you are lucky. More competent gardners may get better results.  When the blossom opens it only lasts for two or three days at best.  This is a photo that I took in my courtyard in El Dorado Hills at about 3:00 PM on a day in August.  It did not blossom again the next day.