I’ve always been fascinated by water lilies and the way they transform an ordinary pond into something almost painterly. What first caught my eye in this scene was the rich variety of textures—the smooth lily pads, the rippling reflections, and the layers of light dancing across the water.
As an East Coaster, I would simply call this a pond. But this image was taken at Lake Pondilla on Whidbey Island, Washington, where I lived and farmed lavender for many years. Despite its name, Lake Pondilla is actually a kettle lake—a reminder of the last Ice Age. When the glaciers retreated, huge blocks of ice were sometimes left behind. As they slowly melted, they created deep depressions in the landscape that filled with water, leaving behind these quiet, beautiful lakes.
I love knowing that beneath the peaceful surface of this scene is a story thousands of years in the making. Nature has a way of combining art, history, and mystery in a single view—and sometimes all we have to do is stop long enough to notice.
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