The greatest challenge in life is to be our own person and accept that being different is a blessing and not a curse. A person who knows who they are lives a simple life by eliminating from their orbit anything that does not align with his or her overriding purpose and values. A person must be selective with their time and energy because both elements of life are limited.
―Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

Below is the original photo used to create this image. While taking a walk around Floyd, VA on a rainy afternoon, my parents and I came across a farmers’ market and these remarkable and unusual flowers. No special lighting or retouching, just a snap from my smart phone.