Hard Before Soft

A flower is a collection of roots, leaves and thorns.
Before it blossoms it's curled within,
Before it softens into tender and nesh
bright and sweet-scented,
It's hardened by the leaves and held in place by the roots.
It's faced by unforgiving winds and starving predators,
It's nectar hunted by hungry fellows.
Through surviving it endures and grows,
And it's past obscured by the glowing petals.