Kansas City though the Trees from Strawberry Hill

"A Withering BloomAs I walk my garden, I’m stopped for contemplation by a poignant withering Peony bloom. Around me are women turning back age, by chiseling the sculpture that is their form, in hopes of dwelling happily within society’s youthful standards. Personally, this beautiful aging bloom inspires me to embrace this inevitable declension. Its soft, pliable crepe-paper pedals are my skin from years of movement and exposure to a beautiful world. Its colorfully textured and mature center holds seeds of acquired wisdom and my desire to leave a legacy. The wind and weather that surround it, are the multitude of experiences, good and bad have softened my stem, allowing me to now bend with change. Aging, for me, will be a graceful dance with life and love"Julie My process: "After capturing this visual treasure in my camera, I then distilled it down digitally, unveiling its essence, by artfully altering its form, colors, shapes, and composition. This image draws on my love of history's