Mosaic Monday
Hosted by Mary at the Little Red House

The lotus flower grows in muddy waters. It rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. In the evenings, the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again.
The flower is untouched by the impurity. It symbolizes the purity of heart [...]

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Subgenus: Opuntia
Opuntia cacti also called prickly pear or nopales are native to almost the entire United States.  One common factor with the Opuntia cactus is that they have ‘pads’ which are joined together giving them the common name of bunnies ears.

The flat and fleshy pads  look like large [...]

a Friday meme hosted by James of Newtown Area Photo.

This photo was taken on the 19th floor at an L-angle from the other corner office, when both offices were still unoccupied. I am facing the famous Hollywood sign, which view has been obstructed by the tall building. Today, both offices have been filled [...]