One flower show. One gorgeous flower...

You know, I've done it many times before - dedicating an entire post to just one flower... For some reason (and I honestly have no idea why), it usually ended up being about yellow flowers. You can check them out here - One flower show..., or here - Sunny day... Sunflower day..., or here - One flower show. Code yellow.. So, if I'm going to do it again, maybe it's time to choose a flower that comes in a whole palette of colors. What do you think? And..well... I know I've already showcased water lilies quite a bit over the past few weeks, but they have been absolutely spectacular in the Denver Botanic Garden this year. They're simply impossible to walk past without stopping. So let's begin early in the morning, when the flowers are just beginning to open...

...although some of them didn't wait at all and were already welcoming the first bees shortly after sunrise ;)

But you know me... even though I was focused (pun intended) on photographing water lilies, I couldn't resist looking around from time to time. I hope you won't hold it against me, will ya?

And just look at these leaves! Sometimes I think they are even more beautiful than the flowers themselves (actually... I think I may have just found the theme for my next morning walk through the gardens :) ).

Busy bees :)

It was fascinating to watch the blossoms open a little wider with every passing minute.

Isn't it one beautiful lotus? One of only a few that were blooming that morning...

Not only were the water lilies waking up slowly, some of the ducks were still enjoying a peaceful morning nap too :)

They say it's all about focus. And I have to agree. Focus... and the angle from which you look at things. Sometimes changing your focus, is enough to see a flower instead of just a bud.

Just look at this bold color! Isn't it stunning?

Then again, simple white has a beauty all its own, wouldn't you agree?

Another lotus and this one was already losing its petals, which actually made it even more attractive.

What an incredible color! Glowing beauty I would call it ;)

Well, we wandered around the pond in circles, admiring lilies of every color and size. It was such a wonderful morning in the garden.

As the sun climbed higher, more and more lilies opened fully, and only a few remained tightly closed. The Monet Pond began to look like one enormous Monet painting. Then again... should that really surprise us? :)

Speaking of one thing show... It doesn't have to be flowers. What about insects? Take this incredible Jagged Ambush Bug, for example - One bug show. 

I'd like to finish this story with the very same lily that opened it. Two hours later it had opened a little wider, though not completely. Perhaps it was still waiting for just a little more sunshine.

 Photos taken on June 04, 2026.