This clam shell book was inspired by a phrase from a poem by Nezahualcóyotl, the philosopher-king of Texcoco. The poem is a profound reflection on the brevity of life, the inevitability of death, and the desire to leave behind a transcendent legacy. I was especially moved by the phrase “Dejemos al Menos Flores” from the poem Un Recuerdo Que Dejo, and used it as the inspiration for creating this book in honor of my grandmother.

My grandmother had a beautiful garden filled with plants. Some grew in old broken clay pots, empty cans, and whatever containers she could fill with soil to nurture a flower. On the day she passed, many insects appeared at her home—bees, butterflies, ants, and beetles. I believe it was nature’s way of thanking her for all the flowers and plants she lovingly cared for, which in turn had provided nourishment and shelter for them.

Inside the book are six specimens: lemon tree thorns, a butterfly cocoon, sunflower seeds, a found honey bee, and beeswax. Two of these specimens were collected more than ten years ago from my grandmother’s garden. Her love for plants sparked my own love for them, and this book serves as both a remembrance of her life and a celebration of the beauty she cultivated.