As I reported yesterday, I spent some time prowling about during the rare, nearly-perfectly calm conditions that blessed us on Saturday. Last autumn we discovered that a small Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) had started to grow just to the west of the house and we carefully put up a wire-mesh fence around it to protect it from the rabbits. It has done well and is now in glorious bloom.
Also, while I was studying the new shoots on one of our holly bushes, I was attracted to this natural nest of leaves, twigs, and acorn caps that had settled in its sheltering center, having fallen from the large oak that towers overhead, and made this still life image of some of last year’s memories between forages for fresh flowers.
krikitarts 
What an amazing still life.
Looks as though it has been arranged into a perfection composition.
I didn’t move anything at all–that’s just the way it was. The elves must have arranged it!
I love the still life. What a fabulous find. I also like the blue-grey and brown colours.
The paler undersides of the maple leaves offset the darker, richer hues of their upper surfaces really well–and I’ve always been fascinated by the textures and patterns in acorn caps. As soon as I saw this natural arrangement, a wide smile warmed my face. Thanks, M!
Beautiful! Lovely saturation and focus on the first and wonderful monochrome feel to the second with wonderful texture!
The still life really is all about texture. I fact, I considered an alternative monochrome version, and I may yet explore that further. Thank you for the compliment and the nudge in that direction!
Lovely images, I have never seen the plant in the first image before. The second one is gorgeous with its textures and colours.
Textures and colors are what it’s all about at this time of the year. It’s so easy to concentrate on the fresh, new-growth beauties while ignoring the ghosts of seasons past. I like very much to be able to pay tribute to both.