The paper garden: an artist begins her life's work at 72

Mary Delany was 72 years old when she noticed a petal drop from a geranium.

In a flash of inspiration, she picked up her scissors and cut out a paper replica of the petal, inventing the art of collage.

It was the summer of 1772, in England. During the next 10 years she completed nearly 1000 cut-paper botanicals.