We all admire nature.

We immerse ourselves in it, we wander in it, camp in it, nap in it.

We observe nature, sing its praises, celebrate it through poetry, dream dreams about it.

We photograph nature, we paint and draw it.

We abuse nature, steal its resources, destroy it.

But does nature look back at us? Does it observe its observers? Do trees secretly examine our strange behavior and take notes that they keep hidden deep inside their honey-colored pods?

If you believe me and my Jac-Pod Galleries, the answer is yes.

Yes, Jacarandas have eyes, they observe and preserve. Tiny diptychs reveal themselves as their pods open up; seed-shells turn into lockets with faded photos of what they’ve seen.

My collection of vernacular photographs has been a perfect source for these galleries. The pictures have always been a voyeur’s window for me, allowing me to peek into strangers’ lives, just like the jacarandas do: watching, probing, and wondering what will come next, what they will see after we are gone.

POUL LANGE is a photographer and visual artist, originally from Denmark now living and working in Downtown Los Angeles.