guesses : the answers

1) a snowflake
2) Las Pozas in Xiltla, Mexico ...

by
magnusvk. His commentary : Edward James, a majorly weird Englishman (1907-1984) spent part of his life fleeing WWII in the US and Mexico. There, having been told that Xilitla is the best place around to grow orchids, he settled down in the jungle and -- grew orchids. After a freak snow storm killed them one winter while he was away he though "darn, what do I do?" And started building flowers in concrete instead.

Now some more flakes.