Photos: June 2005 and June 2007, by Martin Cox.

Concerning this year's paucity of lotus plants in their usual spoon in Echo Park Lake, Martin Cox, sent the following observations and questions in words and visuals.

Hi Jenny: A walk [a few days ago] made me very concerned about our shriveled lotus bed. By June 18 in 2005 we had a thick,
tall, lush growth [top photo], but a year later it was gappy and late, though it did fill in later... but have you seen how it looks now [lower photo]? It's like having our own glacier melt and vanish right in EP. Are there no botanists, scientists or other learned bodies who can offer explanation or help? Will the festival have an identity if the lotus leave?

He's not alone in worry. Though some are more perplexed than perturbed. Michael O'Brien, for example, said he didn't know the reason for the poor lotus show this year. (Couldn't be the drought -- not for plants that already live in water. Or could it?) Michael said lotus have good years and bad years.

As for the festival, maybe we can have a lotus-come-back song and dance ceremony on opening day. Everyone bring your shower heads (in honor of the plant's seed pods) and dance, and then write to your congressman re: Kyoto Protocols.