Fallen Beauty

Fallen fragments

Working in the garden it’s easy for me to get caught up in the clean-up impulse. But, slowing down, and taking a closer look at what would normally be thought of as trash, can expose uncommon delicacy which would otherwise be overlooked. Case in point: while picking up around the container plants I was captivated by the desiccated, fallen leaves of an aloe tree (lower right photo, above). Holding one of the long, dry, twisted tapers closely I was filled with wonder …

____

NOTE: For each detail picture, click on the image once, then again, for a full close-up.

Collared tapers

… because where the leaves previously connected to the aloe tree’s trunk, was a perfectly circular collar. The collar-like effect was further reinforced by what looked like fine stitchery — complete with threads and needle holes — still intact. Color-wise, these collars are reminiscent of vintage celluloid collars, or ivory artifacts, from the late 1900s … the entire effect is an arid prettiness at collar end, with a darker, rougher-textured striation, opposite. Really fanciful, and somehow both seemingly manmade and natural at once. Now, in full contemplation mode, I decide to take a closer look while tidying up around the garden.

Pod fingers

Producing a charming rattle, these acacia pods are full of tiny almost-black seeds. Close to 10-inches-long, these pods are nut brown, with a dry, tanned-leather look and texture. The tree these came from is loaded with these gracefully hanging pods, and they look like dark fingers waving quietly in the afternoon breezes. Again, taking a look at these plant structures close up is strangely rewarding.

Brittle silk

Like a delicate, fine silk scarf that’s been washed and allowed to dry crumpled, these brittle echeveria leaves are singularly gorgeous. What once was a deep maroon, has become a rich tobacco brown, and formerly reddish purple leaves have taken on a faded rose-pink hue. Clicking twice for the closest look, it’s easy to see small spots of gray, and traces of yellow, adding subtle accent to a haute couture color palette.

Bizarre beauty

The grand finale: another echeveria, this time a fallen stump, displays a panoply of stunning textures. Decay is beautiful here, and the range of colors to be found among the leaves includes a startling persimmon orange, various cool greens and a number of shades of black-purple. Additionally, the bubbly, knobby surfaces, the crimped, ruffled edges and the swirling shapes of the leaves are strangely — bizarrely — lovely. Still more rich texture and color presents itself on the scarred stem, which ends in a shaving-brush of root fibers. Only about 4-inches in length, I can’t believe I almost pitched this echeveria fragment as trash. Examining and photographing these fallen fragments has taken some time away from my gardening clean-up time, but it’s been worth it. Heightened visual awareness is always a good thing, I think, and I’m reminded of the obvious: the garden presents innumerable opportunities for amazement. I just need to find a way to strike that balance between my limited gardening time and taking the time to look — and see.