Lincoln-Yee's photostream  

It bears leaves and flowers...

Explanation from wikipedia,
the churning of the Ocean of Milk or the Milky Way was an elaborate process. Mount Mandarachala was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the churning rope. The demons (asuras) demanded to hold the head of the snake, while the demigods (devas), taking advice from Vishnu, agreed to hold its tail. As a result the demons were poisoned by fumes emitted by Vasuki. Despite this, the demigods and demons pulled back and forth on the snake's body alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. However, once the mountain was placed on the ocean, it began to sink. Vishnu in his second incarnation, in the form of a turtle Kurma, came to their rescue and supported the mountain on his back.

Close up view of Vishnu in his second incarnation, in the form of a turtle Kurma, came to their rescue and supported the mountain on his back.
Also from a book that I read, 14 precious gems were extracted from the churning of the ocean. Of the 14 items, Vishnu claimed 4 items, the conch (shankh), bow (Saranga), mace (gada) and jewel Kaustabha. Lashimi was also emerged from the sea as a gift to Vishnu.