Oh Lily!

You, serve as a beautiful reminder,

that Easter is a time for much rejoicing and celebrating.....

You are also the white-robed apostle of hope.... 

Ever wondered how the whole year around, they lie low, almost inconspicuous, but come Easter (March-April) one can find them springing back to life, when a shaft of Green shoots upwards towards the sky bearing tiny buds, which blossom into trumpet shaped flowers in varied colours of  Pure White, Ravishing Red, Mellow Yellow,  Delightful Orange n more….

Springing Back to Life after a long long wait.....

Easter Lillies @ Symbolic of  Joy, Purity, Virtue, Hope n Yearning for Life....

Lilium longiflorum....in all its Pristine Glory!

Amaryllis Lily......Hippeastrum

"Hippeastrum" is Latin for "horseman's star",  also known as "knight's star" as buds on the verge of opening  look something like a horse's ear, while the blossoms resemble six-pointed stars....

Orange Day Lilies

Daylilies are clump forming perennials with Flowers that are large, ornamental, and orange in color while the Leaves are Long, Grass-like, and green in colour. . A leafless stalk, called a scape, extends above the leaves, bearing the flowers. In most varieties the flowers open one at a time, and last only one day, hence the name…. Day Lilies!

Cheer-y Yellow Daylillies.... n  Buzo, our adorable, 8 yr old Lab......sun bathing in the garden.

Some flowers have uniform colors or patterns on all six petals 

while others have more pronounced colors on the upper petals than on the lower ones.... 

as can be seen in this flower.


PS:
I had meant to do this post on Lily around Easter, but nonetheless
Hope this Easter was Joyous for you and your near dear ones!

My entry for : The Haute, The Loud, The Proud # 14 n Flowers on Saturday n
Camera Critters, Todays Flowers # 141 , Mosaic Monday , Outdoor Wednesday
Click on the link above to visit other participants....

Sky Watch Friday: Bada Imambara

It seems, I just can't get enough of my own City of Nawabs aka LUCKNOW. I must have visited the Bada Imambara several times before, and yet here I am again, with outstation relatives in tow, who were visiting Lucknow for the first time. I enjoyed capturing pictures of the monument as much as they did, while the guide took us around.... on a sightseeing tour of the Imambara, its domed chambers and central hallway, the Bhulbhulayan (maze/ labyrinth), the Bowli, the Asfi Mosque and the Gardens....

Endless Corridor @  Bhulbhulayah (the Labyrinth)

Asfi Mosque  n Clear Blue Skies....

Bada Imambara Facade - Among the grandest Buildings of Lucknow aka City of Nawabs. 

The Bara Imambara was built in 1783, a year of a devastating famine, and one of Asaf-ud-Daula's objectives in embarking on this grandiose project was to provide employment for people in the region. According to reports, the famine continued for over a decade and the construction of the building continued for this time. It is said that ordinary people used to work in the day building up the edifice, while noblemen and other elite were called at night to break down all the structure raised, as they were incapable of doing anything else, according to a chronicle of the period. This see-saw efforts continued till the famine period was over. 

Running arched Parapets on the Roof of Bada Imambara - Photo taken @ 6:11 PM

Minutes later the sky changes colour .... Photo taken @ 6:15 PM

Undoubtedly my Favorite shot for the day....what with warm Orange hues as a backdrop for the Minarets

Enjoying the view of the city, along with the Sunset, peeping through one of the Arched Parapets 

My entry for : Sky watch Friday