The Water Lilies Forever stamps were unveiled in a special dedication ceremony on Saturday at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. In this photo shot by Mark Saunders (USPS PR Dept.), Dr. Wendy Mcilwain (USPS Southern MD Processing and Distribution Center Manager) and I unveil the stamps before the kick off of the Lotus and Water Lily Festival. It started out rainy and very overcast that morning, but about an hour before showtime, it began to clear. The weather was downright pleasant—not the usual ghastly hot temps of a typical D.C. July day! Thanks to my “entourage” for their physical, emotional and moral support—Debbie Dyer Talbert, Michael Schwehr, Greg Carlton, Michael Powell and Heather Callin.
Insert really cool fact here: The Postal Service typically prints between 20 million and 40 million stamps of an individual subject. Half a billion Water Lilies Forever stamps were printed in anticipation of extreme customer demand. (They usually only print holiday stamps in that large amount.) Mark told me that nearly HALF of the half billion have sold to date! How cool is THAT? So special thanks to all of you who have bought them—makes me look extra good!
Please join me in the next installment of the Traveling Water Lilies Forever Stamps Project by purchasing some stamps, photographing yourself with them, then emailing me at dyerdesign@aol.com with your name, city and state. Recruit the most participants and win a 20×30 gallery wrap canvas of your choice. Contest closes at midnight on December 31, 2015!
Photo © Mark Saunders
A very special thanks to Michael Powell for serving as my co-host during my 20-minute photo presentation! In this photo below, he’s holding a photo of a Lotus seed pod and I’m explaining how I learned that there is an unofficial phobia name for people who have a fear of holes—trypophobia. It is derived from the Greek word trypo, which means having holes that are punched, drilled or bored. It is considered an intense, irrational and often overwhelming fear of clusters of holes.
Michael has a really great nature-photography-related blog; check it out here.
Photo © Debbie Talbert
Cindy Dyer's Blog 
Wow! Wish I had been there. Beautiful to see you blossom. So proud of you, girl!
Congratulations on the continuing good reception that your stamps are getting.
Holes don’t bother me, but I’m not good with a keyboard, so you might say I have typophobia.
Hi Steve—loved your comment! Thanks for the congrats. It’s been an exciting ride, that’s for sure!