Make a waterlily  

There’s something magical about waterlilies as they turn ordinary pools of water into rainbow-like displays. Discover how to make your own using coffee filters, markers, and paper plates.

Materials Needed 

• Paper plates 
• Markers 
• Coffee filters 
• Bottles of glue 
• Scissors 
• Spray bottle 

 Steps 

1. 1. First, take the coffee filter and draw a design on it. You can color the entire thing, or you can embellish it with polka dots or swirls. This is your opportunity to be as creative as you like.  
2. 2. Once the coffee filter is colored, spray it with water, until the ink starts to run a little. You do not want to soak it; just spray until it is damp. Put it aside to dry.  
3. 3. The paper plate will become your lily pad, so color it any shade of green. Some lily pads have some red streaks called variegation, so you can creative here, too! 
4. 4. After it’s colored in, cut a triangle out of the paper plate. This will allow your paper plate to obtain the lily pad look. Real waterlily leaves have a notch in them where the stem meets the leaf. 
5. 5. Last, but not least, take your coffee filter, grab the center, apply a small amount of glue, and then attach the filter to the green part of the paper plate.  
6. 6. Allow the glue to dry before moving it.    

About the Author

Abigail Swisher is Education Programs Assistant at Naples Botanical Garden. She enjoys and finds inspiration on the various hiking trails throughout the Naples area. Her favorite plants in the Garden are the Victorian waterilies and the silk floss tree.