The praying mantis is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. Their colors vary, ranging from light greens to pinks. Most mantids are pea green or brown.
A baby praying mantis was photographed standing on the tip of a lotus bud at Shing Mun Valley Park, Tai Wo Hau yesterday when I was taking pictures at the lotus pond there.
新田荷花池位于上水和元朗之間，可在上水乘坐76號K巴士到達石湖圍下車，步行入新田村路幾十米即見。荷花池就在路的左旁，荷池水面較闊，荷花分佈疏密有致，四周有樹林掩影，堪稱香港目前最幽美的荷塘，也可能是全港最長的天然荷花池。
昨天早上八時多，來到這里；不知甚麼原因，竟然空無一人；月初來過，還可見有三二發燒友在忙於取景 ! 雖然現在已近六月尾，還能見到疏疏落落的荷花散落在池中，可能這里是個天然荷花池吧。早幾天到城門谷公園，見荷花數量比這里少許多了！有時間還是要再來看看。
The Lotus is a delicate flower with many layered petals arrayed around a central core. A few different plants from separate families all make up this category, but they all have similar meanings when it comes to symbolism. The plants also look alike and share other characteristics like medicinal and edible value. In general, all the Lotus flowers exude beauty and grace.
In Buddhism the lotus is known to be associated with purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness. The flower is considered pure as it is able to emerge from murky waters in the morning and be perfectly clean.