MNN - Mother Nature Network

Agave nectar may be smooth and sweet, but the agave plant’s very fierce-looking! This I discovered while browsing the finalist photographs for UK’s International Garden Photographer of the Year. (via New Scientist)

 

 

The photos range from just unusually pretty scenes — like fallen autumn leaves that look like they’ve been painted with a frosty glaze, but are really just frosty-looking because of the weather — to unique perspectives on more common scenes — like an extreme closeup on an unfolding poppy that looks like crushed velvet fabric.

 

The winners will be announced in May. Have pictures of your garden more striking than these? Then enter the next competition yourself! The deadline’s Nov 30, 2009.