For my first attempt at participating in Pam at Digging’s Foliage Follow-up Day I looked under the grapefruit tree for inspiration. As the leaves fall from the tree they go from green to brown to gray before they finally become part of the compost that enriches the top of the soil. That last stage produces some gorgeous artifacts, where what’s left is mostly the thicker veins of the leaf. Even as the leaf tissue between the veins becomes compost or is consumed by the little critters living in the mulch, the structure of the leaf still remains.
Here’s a series of photos of those last recognizable traces of formerly-living leaves. Most of the below take advantage of the fact that the shadow can seem much more substantial as the thing itself. Maybe it’s a metaphor for the lasting power of a leaf that is about to become compost? Something about the cycle of life?
Wow what a great take on the theme…and your photos are stunning!
These are beautiful. Thanks for looking so closely and for getting us to look closely, too. -Jean
Very cool take on the idea of foliage. I think winter lends itself to this type of introspection a little better as we’re less likely to be distracted by all the flashy plants making their debuts in the upcoming months.
Lovely photographs as usual.
Very cool. One of the shadows looks a bit like the grim reaper.
Great post. I shall look closer next time.
Those are lovely! I may have to try taking a few of those photos myself.
I like your creative take on foliage, James. There’s beauty even in death and decay. Thanks for joining in this month.
I am always delighted to find a skeleton leaf in the garden. I remember them from when I was a child- there were always so many on our garden. Here it is just the odd one but so fascinating. Thanks for reminding us about the cycle of life in the garden.
At a recent art fair, someone had created haunting collages incorporating similar leaf skeletons (haunting for many of the reasons you mention). And have you seen the Japanese lanterns once the papery orange is dessicated to reveal the bright berry encased in a delicate tracery? I love the train of thought brought on by this post.
These images are just wonderful – isn’t it incredible, how the process of decay reveals such beauty? One just needs to take the time to look I suppose. And the shadows – exquisite!
Interesting series of shots. I see leaves like that all the time, but I don’t really “see” them, if you know what I mean. I’ll be looking for them when I go out tommorrow so I can really look at them. Thanks for the pics.
Loree, thank you. I was going to photograph some neat foliage plants and then I saw some of these leaves and changed my mind.
Jean, I love to focus on little details in the garden, and I think many gardeners do too.
Susan, interesting that you thought of winter, and I can see it now. This one particular tree sheds constantly, but this kind of quiet observation really works well for this season.
Ryan, no more Bergman movies for you!
Lola, thanks!
Kelly, have fun making your own photos working with this idea. It’s neat how shadows in photographs take on a presence they don’t seem to have in real life.
Pam, it’s so nice that you came up with the idea to do this! I had a great time doing it, and I’ll be back again.
Jenny, I like little things like these leaves that keep reminding you of the bigger life processes.
Ricki, those collages and lanterns sound beautiful. Both sound like artwork that celebrates change, instead of trying to create something too perfect.
Pam, the process is so simple: a leaf decomposes over time. But they decompose in so many different ways.
Melody, have a great time digging in the fallen leaves! They won’t all be stunning, but I’m sure you’ll end up with a few amazing finds.
You are right! The shadow is so much more than the leaf itself. I never would’ve noticed it had you not pointed it out. They are such a big part of the circle of life. A good thing for all of us.
Great post… I love leaf mulch. Such a great source for the compost.
Even as a kid I loved these fragile, magical leaf skeletons. What fun to see some photos!
Lovely leaf skeletons. A whisper of the life that once was seems to remain behind…
I was thinking about making my own mulch. I have to study up on how exactly to make the right balance for my garden and climate. Pretty neat pictures of those decomposing leaves. Amazing what technology can do in the form of photography these days. Cheers~
cool. I need to dig a little deeper and look a little closer and see what I can find. Once the snow melts that is.