When you create a Tk::Image (the parent class of Tk::Photo) without specifying a name, it generates a unique name. Tk then keeps references to these images, whether you do or not, so that you can later specify just a name anywhere that Tk is expecting a Tk::Image (or child).

You have to call $image->delete() to actually delete the image. See the docs for Tk::Image.

bbfu
Black flowers blossom
Fearless on my breath