Decorating nature

fig. 73: a maple key with cartoonitus.

fig. 72: white-dot fungi fill every surface of a tree stump.

fig. 71: the tequila sunrise tree drops very happy leaves.

fig. 70: a locust seed pod adopts a snake pattern, probably to discourage attack by seed eating birds.

fig. 69: old-timers claim that counting the rings on peach leaves in fall predicts how many peaches you'll get next season.

fig. 68: some stones "blue up" when the water gets cold.

fig. 67: the winged burning bush marks its leaves for exfoliation.

fig. 65: peak foliage is not always found on the trees.

fig. 64: blue bursts portend a long winter.

fig. 63: the rare "Sunset scallop" is purported to cure narcolepsy if put under the pillow of the afflicted.

fig. 56: not normally associated with seasonal transformations, some stream-side stones actually will begin to pixellate in late autumn/early winter.

fig. 61: On Fire Island, the Pines drop some very colorful cones.

fig. 59: horizontal stripes are very slimming.

fig. 55: certain leaves pay tribute to fallen friends with tattoos.

(individual leaves from this small series can be seen by clicking here.)

fig. 58: yellow remembers orange.

fig. 54: some evergreens are not.

fig. 53: spiralchetes infest a redbud leaf.

fig. 62: scientists are baffled as to why blue spots appear on beach stones and shells.

fig. 52: it's not unusual for leaves to overcompensate for their inherent blandness.

fig. 51: rare and valuable seed pods of the money plant, lunaria annua.

fig. 57: gingko leaves are individually beautiful but collectively stunning.

fig. 60: on some beaches, symbiosis does not always go hand in hand with mutualism.

fig. 66: Ponce de Leon leaves try to look young even when they're clearly not.