On the left, the delicate petals of this cosmic rose cradle newborn suns in her stellar nursery. The Rosette Nebula, also known as NGC 2237 is a young star forming complex. In the center young bright blue stars of open cluster NGC 2244 light up the dust and gas as their stellar winds spand outward. Connecting the Rosette and the Cone is a column of dust and gas that appears like a rose's stem but extends hundreds of light years. 

On the right, the Cone Nebula NGC 2264 forms part of the nebulosity surrounding the Christmas Tree Cluster. This amazing nebula is cradling a treasure of it's own. The bright blue area is brilliantly illuminated by the Snowflake cluster dominated by a star called S Monocerotis. The Snowflake cluster is thought to have created the Fox Fur nebula that makes up the wider part of the "Christmas Tree".

Stellar photographer David Lindemann took this photo from his home in the beautiful Swiss Alps.