Ikebana

 I learned today that Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, values withered leaves and bare sticks as well as blossoms in order to represent the cyclical aspect of nature as to honor all phases of life.  I've been admiring the dropping petals and newly-exposed inner flower architecture as tulips slowly fade, droop, curl and then drop their petals.  So here are some Ikebana-like sketches of the last phase of the tulips.

On the left is a petal that has just drooped down, hanging on like a loose tooth.

Then early this morning I got to see what 7 degrees looks like on a ridge top with the sun getting ready to rise behind it.  Ice crystals covered the trees up there and they sparkled and shimmered in the approaching sunlight against the blue sky and the shadowy west face of the mountain.  Astonishing!