Victoria Regia

The queen among the water lilies is undoubtedly the Victoria Regia, or Victoria Amazonica.  

The flower seems very small compared to the huge leaves

 

The Hortus in Leyden, its University Gardens, has cultivated this water lily as long as I can remember. Apparently every year it is propagated from seed. In winter this hothouse pond, which was especially built for this particular water lily, is empty. But midsummer the huge leaves have developed fully, leaves which can support a baby without breaking or sinking. And there are the flowers, usually one at a time. They are rare, and only bloom for two days. The first day they are a pure white, the second day they turn pink, and then sink. I had heard there was a flower and that the Hortus had a late night opening, so instead of a walk along the beach I decided to walk into Leyden. It was still very hot, and of course bricks and paving stones retain the heat for a long time. The beach is much cooler. But it was worth it. I was just in time. The flower had turned pink, but was also gradually turning brown and dying. Tomorrow there will be nothing because the flower will sink. But others are supposed to appear.

Very small pale blue lily (or lotus?) in a small pond in the same hot house

 Several types of hibiscus in the hot house

 It is amazing to see the huge leaves of this water lily. Apart from that, the hothouse also has other water lilies in smaller ponds, and some subtropical flowers and butterflies. The butterflies I tried to catch on camera. But in flight I could not capture them. They were too quick for me – and for the camera. When they rested they folded their wings and didn’t show their colourful patterns.

The bust of Von Siebold in the Japanese Memorial Garden

 Several views of the Von Siebold Garden

I t was good to be out of this hot house. There was some wind, and the worst of the heat had gone. The gardens are interesting. Von Siebold, a German medical doctor  who travelled to Japan and lived from 1823-1829 on Deshima, the Dutch trading post on the island or peninsula, sent many special Japanese plants and seeds to Leyden where he lived after being expelled from Japan. The Hortus still has quite a lot of the plants and trees which he sent or brought to Leyden. The Hortus also has a Japanese garden with a bust of Von Siebold, in his honour.

 Chinese herbal medicine garden

 larger than life

 Some more flowers being pollinated

 Walking back there was a nice cooling wind. Leyden, as usual, looked interesting. It was remarkably quiet, probably because of the absence of most students. The warm weather wasn’t very inviting for tourists either, who prefer other seasons for a city trip. In fact it gave Leyden a dreamy quality which was intriguing.

 

 Colourful bikes, but no students!

 Leyden