A Garden Texture

I had been inside all morning, so I slipped out through the sliding screen door onto the sun-warmed patio tiles. Over by the stone planter, a brown, spiraled seed pod lay tucked between two fallen pebbles. I knelt down on the rough concrete to inspect it closely. Its ribbed ridges were remarkably even, almost like carved wooden beads. I carefully lifted it with both hands to test its weight, rubbing my thumb along the spiraled edge. It was dry, sturdy, and smelled of warm soil. I set it gently next to a sprig of dried moss to save for later.