Not in the garage this time, but in the garden instead.
Leaf skeletons.
Are they not just the most remarkable things? It's like nature, deconstructed. I was fascinated by them as a child and couldn't imagine a "skeleton" that wasn't the white bodies of Funnybones. I'm pleased to find I'm still fascinated by them now. My mum found these two fine specimens in the garden and brought them inside to show Bella and Angus. I think I was much more excited than they were. These leaves look so incredibly, unbearably fragile, with their delicate web of papery stems and veins. But presumably they are fairly robust, given that they've been out there since last autumn, through wind and rain and the occasional ground frost.
The lacy, mesh effect is captivating. It's like an etching, full of lines and detail.
I like the way this one looks as though it has a seam of gold running through it's stem.
Truly buried treasure indeed.
I don't know what to do with them now. Spray them? Press them? I'd like to find a way to display them, but suspect they might be ruined by any of my clumsy attempts to preserve them. Maybe I shouldn't try, but should just put them back into the garden where they can continue their natural cycle of decomposition.
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The weather is utterly glorious here today and we're off for a walk in the sunshine. Wishing you all a happy, sunny Sunday.
They are lovely Gillian, hope you find a way to save them. Enjoy your walk, looking forward to getting out in the sunshine too. x
ReplyDeleteThe photos are a way of preservation and you have captured them beautifully. They are like delicate drawings. Have a great Sunday x
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteHelenxx
Love them. The photos definitely do them justice and you could possibly have them framed and display them that way. Take care.
ReplyDeleteJust display them in a white bowl until they break and you return them to nature. They are ephemera and don't need preserving beyond the dignity of a blog post and your photos. They are stunning, though and fascinating to look at!
ReplyDeleteM&S are selling those hinged glass frames for Mother's Day for £8, I bought one yesterday x
ReplyDeleteThey are so beautiful ... your photographs of them are stunning ... it's lovely to hear you have sunshine today ... it hasn't arrived here yet but we are on a promise for next week ... fingers crossed ... enjoy your Sunday ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed your walk. it's beautiful here too - I've bought my laptop outside and am catching up with reading some blogs with a cuppa sitting in the sunshine. Perfect! x
ReplyDeleteVery cool - I don't think I have ever seen them before. How would they not have broken down? Amazing.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. They are so intricate and delicate:)
ReplyDeleteI agree Gillian, they are amazing little treasures of nature. I think you could probably press them like flowers couldn't you ? They'd looked amazing in a simple wooden frame.
ReplyDeleteKate x
Mesmerising Gillian, I love both your garden and garage treasures. I was just looking at a leaf skeleton I found the other day and the intricate and unbelievable design of them. We are so blessed with our earthly natural treasures. Hope your walk has been full of sunshiny goodness xox
ReplyDeleteI have always marvelled over these too Gillian (also perhaps more than my children!). They remind me of that very fine crochet or lacemaking, quite incredible. mel x
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find. I love the way they look lacy but also like cobwebs. They remind me of the caterpillar nests in the trees. I hope you had a lovely walk.
ReplyDeleteI love treasure like this, so beautiful x
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful and delicate looking, and yet obviously so strong. Nature is so miraculous.
ReplyDeleteLovely ... you have already preserved their beauty with wonderful photographs of them.... I am sure they would look gorgeous framed. Lovely Post
ReplyDeleteIt has been lovely hasn't it? My girls can't get enough of being outside and this weekend was a bicker free one as they had so many new things to do and play with each other. Hooray! for sunshine! I think you should keep your photos for the beauty instead of trying to keep them. Jo x
ReplyDeleteI think that your photos make a great record of them, not sure if you could do anything to flatten them as they are probably very brittle, but you could perhaps pop them under a glass dome or a large glass or bowl to keep them for looking at for a while! xx
ReplyDeleteI think they are quite beautiful, and I think your pictures of them are amazing. But preserving them will be difficult, maybe they should go back to where they were so they continue the journey they were on.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
They are STUNNING treasure indeed, so delicate, often it is the natural things that are the most beautiful! I found a fossilised poppy seed head today, it was just as fragile and yet had survived all winter, amazing!
ReplyDeleteKatie
They are fantastic, so beautiful. Please let us know if you find a way to keep and display them.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful indeed, Gillian, and you could put them in a box frame for preservation purposes. When I was into 'art' I used to reproduce beauties like these in pen and ink on paper, long long time ago. A wonderful find, great treasure! Joy xo
ReplyDeleteI love skeletal leaves... they are nature's work of art!
ReplyDeleteJacqui x
Wow, beautiful photos are you using a macro lens? Xx
ReplyDeleteNo, just my regular camera. I don't have a macro lens, I think I just got the angles right on this one! x
DeleteBeautifully captured for ever in this post!
ReplyDeleteYou have captured these leaves beautifully. They look so delicate and yet they've made it through all the winds and the rain. I think the same of all the daffodils that are edging the hedgerows now, they are robust little fellows!
ReplyDeleteHi, I have 2 of these skeletons which I displayed in a couple of small box-frames, so no need to press them!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed the sunshine and you find a way of 'keeping' those leaves. Box frames ould seem a good way to go!
ReplyDeleteThey're stunning! You should frame a photo or two and display them that way. x
ReplyDeleteI love leaf skeletons too. I can still remember the awe I felt when I found my first one as a child... and they still fill me with awe. Love your photos :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, like whispy fabric almost. You could maybe spray them with a thin coat of varnish which would address the fragility issue and then just display them.
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos Gillian, leaf skeletons are fascinating. Could you frame them or are they too dry to press? Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteJane x
They are one of nature's beautiful things - I wouldn't know how to 'keep' them, but it would be so lovely if you could. Treasure indeed! xCathy
ReplyDeletebeautiful photography of a beautiful phenomenon. Certainly consider framing them, they are set off so well against the white.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, positively gorgeous. Wow.
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful! It's amazing the wonderful things we find in nature. You photos are stunning as well.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying your early spring weather.
Stunning!!! Oh and I've just seen you've added me to your blog role...thanks so much!!! Sarah xo
ReplyDeleteI've no idea how to go about preserving them but they are rather amazing aren't they?
ReplyDeleteS x
Hey Gillian,
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Plain and simple.
Leanne xx
They're exquisite! I have a holly leaf skeleton - the leaf points are still prickly - that I display in a small glass box from Nkuku ... maybe that's the answer for you?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I would try pressing them if they are not too brittle. Would look lovely in a simple frame with a white background maybe alongside your photos of them.
ReplyDeletehey there, been a while ;)
ReplyDeletei would die for that box of pencils!
Oh, these look like artisan jewellery! I hope you can keep and display them, although the photos are lovely too.
ReplyDeleteS x
Gillian! They are really amazing, and such a pleasure to view through your lovely photos! Thanks!!! xx
ReplyDeleteSimply gorgeous. Hope you managed to preserve them?! xoxo
ReplyDelete