Everybody who enters the glass-flower exhibit asks the same question, “Are these really glass? The stems? The leaves?” Then their mouths fall open as they realize, yep. It’s difficult to fathom the amount of work and attention to detail needed the create these botanical treasures. Mind blowing!

The naturalists and consummate glass artisans, Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka, created the nearly 4,400 life-size models, entirely of glass, between 1886 and 1936.

These beauties surrounded an outdoor eating area at a Thai restaurant in Tucson. Notice the zig-zag ridges on the leaves and the black plastic receptacles. True art!