Vernal Voyeurism

Our winter-blooming witch hazel shrub is not the most exciting plant to photograph, or so I thought -- until I looked at my macro shots on my computer.

Bondage

Exotic dancer

I had no idea that the twisted ribbon-like petals were "stored" rolled up inside the flower, as you can see on the left above, and I still don't know why the buds are "wrapped" in fine filament -- or, in the case of the flower on the right above, attached to the branch with what looks like sturdy rope!

(For something beautiful on a much larger scale, take a look at Phil's entry for today.)