Beauty Edges Up to Death

Spring is a mixture of rotting as much as it is a time of new growth. On a recent trip to Sacramento with some friends we pulled over at the State Capital to wander around. There must have been every imaginable kind of camellia there in the gardens. Old bushes, established, thousands of flowers. I was, of course, drawn into the trampled, damp flowers on the ground. The perfect petaled versions were pretty, but not quite as interesting to me. In fact, the decay seemed to intensify their beauty. Two snapshots later and I had a new little project on my mind. Luckily for me, Grass Valley is covered in Camellias (having three in my own yard). These images are the results of my nightly walks along the streets here in town.