Catawba, South Carolina – Landsford Canal Spider Lilies

Cindy Cooley of Fort Mill took this shot of the Rocky Shoals spider lilies at the Landsford Canal State Park in June 2008.

She writes: "I had always wanted to photograph the lilies but they were never been in bloom when I visited the park. I went down yesterday, walked to the viewing area thinking they weren't blooming because they hadn't been where I could see walking up the path. When I got to the viewing area the view took my breath away ... and I took this picture."

Landsford Canal State Park is home to one of the largest known populations of Rocky Shoals spider lilies, a species that is under threat from the construction of dams along the plants' native river habitats.