Inle Lake, Myanmar

Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 10:14:37 AM

Inle Lake, Myanmar-- The lotus in both Burma and India is a sacred flower, associated with purity. In Burma, the fragrant lotus legend is that Buddha was offered a set of monk's robes by a Brahma who had found them in a lotus blossom.

Nearly a century ago in a fishing village in Inle Lake, a woman experimented with the fibers she gently pulled from a lotus stem, forming them into thread and weaving thread into lotus items, such as scarves and robes.

Cloth woven from lotus thread.

There is no other place where this tradition of lotus fiber weaving occurs. The scarves have a nubby feel and an off-white color. But few of us who grow lotus in South Florida would have the patience required to weave lotus fiber. Or would we?

blog comments powered by Disqus

Georgia Tasker

Georgia Tasker was the garden writer for The Miami Herald for over 30 years and has written four books on gardening. Her blog is a must read for any gardener.

Archives

May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009