Purple Allium Reflected on the Lily Pond

Last week, I was delighted to discover large stands of purple allium blooms at the Arboretum. They appear throughout the pollinator gardens, as well as near the lily pond. They aren't just little ones either; they're huge, magnificent flowers. Sometimes I imagine them to be purple aliens, instead of just purple allium blooms.

Something you may not know about allium is that the purple color fades as time passes; and the big, round heads become shot through with green over time. So if you are a lover of purple, it is advisable to photograph them as early in the blooming process as possible. Days matter.

I spotted the first water lilies on Tuesday, and I've become obsessed since then, in this purple frenzy I've apparently been in, with photographing the reflections of the purple blooms among the water lilies.

There is a special "sweet spot" in the reflections where you can catch shining bits of red from that lovely painted wall in the background, purple from the allium, and bright pink from the water lilies, all mingled together and shimmering on the surface of the water. I've included that shot in the "extra photos" area.

The song to accompany this image is Vashti Bunyan, with Lily Pond.