Trees are being felled in the arboretum in an effort to rid the Des Plaines River of invasive tree roots. I know it's a necessary act, but this clearing breaks my heart a little. The history piled up in these felled tree limbs--
Coming in from walking the dog the other day, I pulled this filigree leaf out of a small pocket of snow. Because it was so fragile, the leaf ripped a little, which broke my heart. Placing it on a small Christmas envelope with the sun coming in the window was just a stroke of luck.