Aside from Mother Nature's spontaneity, spring is one of my favorite times of the year. Everything is waking up, arising anew, or (in warmer climates) continuing from the previous season. This year was no different. Gardens, sidewalks, parks, and hillsides were awash in color, purple being a dominant theme. I couldn't help but notice how this blooming hydrangea resembled a coral reef full of anemones, sponges, and the like.