Winter Lichens Part 2

Posted on January 11, 2016 Updated on April 28, 2016

Remember this, from a week ago? A little frosty but still green and growing.

Today, January 10th, it was 5 degrees above zero and this is my lichen hunting outfit; every layer of Canadian ski clothes I can find:

And here’s Lichen Land now:

But as we know, the lichen are quietly waiting for the ice to melt. Meanwhile the ice is busy make beautiful patterns. I wonder what it looks like from underneath, where the lichens are?

Since it was so cold today, I went out to see what the lichens looked like on the hill behind our house. As I searched for them in the ice and snow I thought about how quickly they exchange their active life for dormancy. Another warm day and these ice covered lichen will be back to life in a few hours.

Below: very cold lichen

It’s fun to see what else is out in the woods besides the lichen.

This is the hilltop where these pictures were taken:

It’s a busy place. See all the tracks? Our coyote friends like to gather in this area and sing to us. Their tracks tell the story of what they do while here.

Sandstone catching the afternoon light

At the top of the ridge a dead tree trunk supported these fungus

After an hour there seemed to be more and more snow and less lichens, and it was getting colder so I went home. I went less than a quarter mile from the house and had a good adventure. What’s close to home where you live? If you’re out there and meet your own resident lichens, share them with us!