Ahh, the water lily. Probably my favorite flower. Not far from an old shanty that rested on the banks of the Minnesota Slough (back waters of the Mississippi River), there was a hidden pond. To get there, Daddy had to maneuver his launch through fallen trees and low hanging branches. We crouched as far as we could get so that the heavy foliage wouldn’t sweep us out of the boat. Once beyond this narrow channel, the water opened to a quiet body of water. It was filled with lily pads and in mid-summer, the lilies were in full bloom.

The reason for our trek was to get fresh water. You see, before the lock and dams were installed, artesian wells were used to acquire fresh water to the folks who lived along the river. If one remembers stories of old, these ancient water systems can be located. There is one in the middle of, what I lovingly called “Lily Pad Pond.” This photograph was taken 30 years ago. Unfortunately, sediment washes into the pond. By now the pipe is probably completely under water.

Our mother would hang on to our shirts, as my brothers and I took turns getting a drink from the pure water that continually bubbled from the depths of the earth. We would haul jugs of water back to the shanty, where it would be kept cool in the icebox that stood on the porch. That icebox is another story. Stay tooned.