Ten Things Thursday

How about some beautiful things in nature?

I have no idea what these are from. I suppose they are seeds, but they sure a cute.

This doesn't seem like it could be real. That many cardinals lined up so perfectly---come on. It must be a painting.

This is an unusual flower/plant.

I have a feeling I might actually have seen some of these, but didn't realize it was an insect. Maybe it's not real either.

Which came first?

I'm not sure I ever realized that the beaks on cardinals were red. But I guess the picture above proves it.

 I don't know about this. It looks like it just might be food dressed up to look like flowers.

I definitely didn't know this. All I've got to say is that's a lot of "picking" to get a jar of cashews. It must take a whole tree for one jar. Maybe they grow on bushes.

Art in nature.

Did you know that Bradford pear trees are so invasive that some places offer a bounty on them. I don't know where that is, but it seems to me, you can just wait them out. They are not long living trees--only about 15 years. And, they are weak trees to boot. They suffer storm damage easily. The flowers are sure pretty.