农历六月，三伏天，烈日炎炎。许多植物在酷夏的灼烤下无精打采，只有荷塘中的荷花亭亭玉立，精神抖擞，因而，六月也被称之为“荷月”。

荷花，历来为文人所钟爱，一直有夏天邀人赏荷，秋天采莲怀人的传统。在古代诗词中，咏荷花的诗词不在少数，或赞美其君子风度，或欣赏其品格高雅，或唱和其风韵独胜，或咏颂其优美风姿……

六月赏荷正当时。邀三五友人，来到永定区后坪街道荷花社区的荷花园，漫步在湖边池畔，看红蕖与绿水交映，让人顿减几分暑气。

荷花园占地300余亩，里面有数百个品种，花期最长的一种可从四月观赏至秋季。除了赏荷，这里还可以划船，垂钓，烧烤，开派对，搞拓展……不失为市民周末休闲游乐的好去处。

文/本报记者 潘鑫 图/本报记者 胡卫衡

In June of Chinese calendar, dog days, the sun is burning. Many plants are spiritless in the scorching sun, only the lotus flowers in the lotus pond are standing gracefully and energetic, so June is also known as the "Month of Lotus".

The lotus has been cherished by literators through all ages, there has been such a tradition of inviting somebody to enjoy lotus in summer and picking lotus and recalling somebody in autumn. A good many of ancient poems chant lotus, some praise its gentle style, some enjoy its elegant character, some sing its distinct charm, some glorify its graceful bearing.

It is the right time to enjoy lotus in June. In the Lotus Garden of Lotus Community, Houping Street, Yongding District, wandering on the pond side with a few friends, looking at the red lotus and green water, a little summer heat is eliminated suddenly.

The lotus garden occupies more than 300 mu, containing hundreds of varieties, the longest blooming period lasts from April to autumn. Besides viewing lotus, you can boat, fish, barbecue, hold parties and make development here. It is a good place for citizens' weekend recreation.

Text/Pan Xin, journalist with this Press Office Pictures/Hu Weiheng, journalist with this Press Office