We were on the western side of the Green Mountains over the weekend, celebrating a special occasion with friends. We were in a neighborhood that values gardens and the botanical side of life.

The many different plants made me appreciate, all over again, the dazzling texture of life. I never tire of admiring leaves, the patterns that frost makes on a window, the way trees talk to the wind, the myriad options for seeds.

These are two textures that caught my eye this weekend, the leaves of a begonia known as escargot (for obvious reasons) and a lime-to-lemon host.