When we visited Oregon Ridge State Park (Maryland) a few weeks ago, we found these plants with large seed pods. The seeds were layered together like scales, and if you started to take one out, the rest would soon follow. I gathered a handful together and took them with me, and they stayed in my car trunk until last night.

I took this photo inside, in what is slowly becoming a poor man's photography studio. The pod is sitting upon green construction paper, and the background is a sheet of blue. It was lit from the front by one of the spot lights I bought when I shot Tom's jewelry. I made an incredible mess by getting the seeds everywhere.