At the end of the season, the American Lotus looks nothing like the butter yellow colored flowers seen on the inland ponds of Sterling State Park in Monroe, Michigan.

The brown Lotus pods are a collector’s delight, especially for floral designers and others who use the pods for decoration.

North America’s largest native aquatic water flower, American Lotus blooms can grow to almost 10 inches across.

That’s the size of a dinner plate! Continue reading Photo of the Week: Lotus Pods at Sterling State Park