My entry is based off of a beautiful speckled red lily/orchid in a beautiful, deep reddish, maroon shade I saw some time ago near a large tulip field. I wasn't able to identify the specific kind of flower, however.

"The Rose of Halfeti"

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/the-stunningly-beautiful-black-roses-of-halfeti.html

Spring here in Japan naturally means cherry blossoms, but it also means festivals, and festivals mean street vendors, and street vendors mean...

Takoyaki.



Octopus balls! The white is mayo, the brown is okonomi sauce, and the red is cooked octopus. Delicious.

This aeri is based on a Spring dawn, going from the black of night, to the pinks and pale blues of the sun rising, to the deep blue of a spring morning and afternoon.

I used light, mostly pale colors that make me think of Spring (particularly easter) on my Aeridini. Plus butterflies and birds both have associations with springs, so I decided to go with these specific mutations.

<sup>In honor of Mother's Day, I decided to do my mother's favorite flower - a Calla Lily. It's such a beautiful flower & it always makes me think of her.



The result:</sup>

Based off my Lotus design:

Here is mine... based on Hazelpollen ... or golden pollen :)

This is based on those dreary spring rainshowers. They may be dull and grey and boring, but the sun will always come out in the end (the sunny yellow tail)!