I like the original. The full sentance fits the complexity of what the writer is looking at and the rhythm works for me as well. The piece is not about bare essentials but about a richness of details.
("as nearly engaging" says to me that living things are nearly engaging.)

PS at the beach one January I saw driftwood that had still been wet when the temperature dropped. As the water froze and expanded it was forced out of every tiny fissure into fine, complex crystal moss.