Woman playing violin, standing on lily pad at Shaw's Garden (Missouri Botanical Garden), in front of Linnean House, c1905. Courtesy of Missouri History Museum, Public Domain
The woman in the above image is playing her violin while standing on a giant lily pad. Sound incredible? It's not. The leaves of the Victoria regia can grow up to 8 feet across depending on conditions. With a fascinating underside that allows it to support weight, many historical images show people standing or sitting on the giant leaves.
If you're interested in learning more, and seeing historical images about this wonderful plant that grows in the wilds of South America and many of the world's botanical gardens, check out my post on the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog.
