Low Light American Lotus

This American Lotus was one of the few still blooming at Reeves Slough, near the fishing pier at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

Low light American Lotus in Oklahoma – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/320, ISO 1250, +0.3 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 300mm, natural light

For unknown reasons, the lotuses closest to the fishing pier just don’t look as healthy as they did in 2023 or 2024. There haven’t been as many blooms, and the individual flowers aren’t as luscious as they were. Plus, most of the lotus leaves are ragged and brown around the edges.

There’s plenty of water in the slough. Maybe even too much, since we had such a wet spring and early summer.

The fishing pier is practically the only spot left for me to photograph American Lotuses, since the other areas where I usually find them at the refuge have become terribly overgrown.

So, even though I had low light conditions, I decided that if I wanted to photograph any lotuses this growing season, I needed to take some photos anyway. Which I did.

Usually there are bees, dragonflies, and tree frogs when the lotuses are blooming, but sadly, there aren’t as many of them this year at the fishing pier either.

I adore the lotuses at the refuge. Whatever’s going on with them, I hope it’s only temporary and that things will be back to normal next year.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my wildflower, shrub and tree photos.