Chinese Flame Tree: Paper Lanterns!

I just finished raking up my front yard. Whew! I chatted with neighbors who were also raking their leaves after our overnight wind episode. Shooting the breeze! The wind brought down many leaves from my 2 Chinese flame trees (aka Koelreuteria bipinnata and bougainvillea golden rain tree). It also brought down several of the very exquisite peach-pink colored paper lanterns or seed pods. To the far right is a photo of 2 paper lanterns opened up, with seeds exposed. The other photo is of several of the many paper lanterns that I saved from my raking today. I’m keeping these lanterns for art projects and also for possible propagation. Click on both images to see the most beautiful colors that only nature can produce. No two are alike – perfectly imperfect. True loveliness!