WiseAcre Gardens

Tolerating pollution and broad pH ranges Fire Moss is fairly common.. If you see a patch of moss that has a red haze over it you can be pretty certain it’s Fire Moss. The stalks and spore capsules are red – brown and seen from a shallow side angle a patch of moss has a red haired look. Looking straight down the stalks almost vanish.

Moss and lichens can hardly wait for the snow to melt before they go into their reproductive cycle. After melting and refreezing (who knows how many times) snow has turned to ice trapping a few Fire Moss spore capsules.

Fire Moss – Ceratodon purpureus

For a closer look click the image above for a 1024 x 768 sized version. The thumbnail is linked to a 1680 x 1050 wide screen image. Use either as desktop wallpaper if you like.

Just another Felt Lichen – Peltigera polydactylon surrounded by icy snow. This may be the last of the ‘on ice’ lichen photos of the year. The snow is nearly ‘no more’.

…And now for something completely different:

I found a puzzle today. It was well packed in fur but I suspect it’s missing a few pieces.

Owl Pellet

The ‘Awakening’ photo contest at Gardening Gone Wild is still open. The deadline for entries is 11:59 pm Eastern time on Sunday, March 21, 2010. Go check out the details so you can enter too.

The Fire Moss and Ice photo above is my entry. Now show me yours.

Mysteriously formed holes and moss growing on a rock. I don’t have any idea how the holes were formed but they did give me some other ideas. First thing I thought of was to bring the rock home with me. Trouble is it’s nearly a mile away and still frozen in place. I’ll have to hike back with a pry bar and sled. It’s not the only mossy rock on my list either. I better get busy before the snow melts and get my treasures home before it’s too late.

Another idea that popped into my head was to start selling these miniature rock-moss gardens. But on second thought it’s not so practical since the postage would be a real deal breaker. It’s too bad, there are countless perfect little rock and moss gardens out there and I’m pretty sure there are just as many people that would appreciate having one of their own.

One of the holes made a perfect sunken moss garden

click image for a larger size (1024 x 768) for a closer look or to use as desktop wallpaper

Maybe it’s just me but when I look at this photograph I’m reminded of goose heads. These spore capsules haven’t lost their operculum (basically a lid that covers the top of the pod) and might make you take another gander at them.

I came across two creatures that looked like they had a tough winter this year. Both their coats looked the worst for wear.

Winter can be tough on a Porcupine. This one survived by eating bark from it’s Maple tree abode. It looks a little ratty sunning high up in a crotch of the tree but at least it made it through the tough winter.

Poor Skunk Hard hit by the sudden automotive depression it never had a chance to raise a stink and left this world scentless.

Off center questions:

Would Moss Hole and Spore Head make good cuss names in polite company?

What could be more uncomfortable than a porcupine in your crotch?

Today begins March Moss Madness. Better get used to it. After months of winter anything green and growing is going to catch and keep my attention until something better comes along. So here are today’s moss photographs.

This moss is a lot like me in a way. I can’t wait to get out from under the snow either.

The stone wall is only beginning to emerge from under the snow. It appears the moss goes into it’s reproductive mode as soon as the snow melts from it. Here some spore capsules that caught some water droplets.

I couldn’t resist turning this photograph into my new desktop background. I think it’s one of the cooler photos I’ve taken.

click image for a closer look or to use as desktop wallpaper – 1024 x 768
If you want a different size you’ll have to ask.

After countless tries I did manage to get a focus on this droplet. The photo isn’t anything special but after so many tries I just had to post the water droplet.

How do I make my dog obey the STAY command?
By placing her head between two boulders.

POOR POOKIE