Another lichen – another nameless species. I am fairly sure the genus is Xanthomendoza but differentiating the various yellow species by sight is something I can’t do.

This foliose lichen is growing on the bark of an old maple tree. It looks like a stain/paint from a distance but if you take a close look the lichen’s ‘leaves’ can be seen.

Looking even closer revels disk shapes. I’m only guessing the discs have a reproductive function and that’s where lichens get a little weird. Lichens don’t have a straightforward way of producing new baby lichens. The symbiotic partnership between fungus and algae is not equal. The fungus is the dominate partner and the one that gets to reproduce. The poor algae is just there to work and doesn’t get a chance to fool around.

The fungus gets to develop its fruiting bodies and produce spores. That’s where algae gets the last laugh. The spores either have to find an algal partner or perish.

Looks like ‘tree kelp’

As long as I’m in yellow mode I may as well post photos of last night’s Sap Moon.
The structure on the moon is a 765 KV power line tower.

Sometimes things aren’t what they appear to be.

At a distance this didn’t seem like anything special. Just more moss covered rocks in a pile that pretends to be a stone wall. Not until I examined it closely by trying to pull the head off did I realize this was a one piece stone. It kind of looks like a turtle to me. I think it would like living in my pond garden if I can coax it to follow me home.

Sometimes ya got to take a closer look. The tip of the head had some interesting moss. The ‘sky’ background is actually shadowed snow.

Sometimes ya don’t get a second look. It was a stand off. A deer out in the corn stubble had spotted me as I fumbled for my camera. No way was I going to be able to stalk this one for a closer shot.

another day – another deer. nothing to see here, time to move on

Sometimes ya got to know what you’re looking at. This is an ant hill. The area is swampy so the ants have to build up instead of down to avoid getting flooded out. I’ve never seen one more than a couple feet high but I have seen them about 4 feet across.

A look across the front yard from the widow at my desk. The Amish are using stealth buggies that confuse my camera. See it? It wasn’t all that stelthy because of the noise. I could hear it coming down the road and had just enouth time to get the window opened.

A not so quick camera setting change gave me enought time to get another shot off before it moved out of range.

These photos were taken yesterday. The snow in the yard is nealy gone now. Whoot! Mud Season has arrived.

Keep looking. I found more stuff today.

This looks Lichen some kind of mutant terrestrial kelp to me. To even guess at the identity would make me look lichen some kind of Foliose.

I did look around the web for clues.
The closest thing I saw that looked like this was – Nephroma resupinatum

I didn’t have to look this one up. I know it’s a velvet foot mushroom.

I thought it was cute growing in the knot hole.

…another march madness episode.

Mushroom Madness

I didn’t think I could top finding mushrooms growing in a Feburary north country winter but photographing them in snow is a new high for me.

I found these on the same Elm tree the Feburary batch was growing on.

Velvet Foot Mushroom – Flammulina velutipes

I know it’s yellow but this is to the best of my knowledge:

Orange Jelly – Dacrymyces palmatus

This too was a warm Febuary day discovery but I caught it growing this time. It’s on a dead Hemlock branch which makes me believe it is orange jelly but I wasn’t aware it grew like a slime mold. Doubts on the identity are now stuck in the cobwebs of my mind. Is this a slime mold or a mushroom? It certainly looks like snot.

Moss Madness

I love this rock. It’s about a quarter mile from the house but I swear someday I’m going to bring it home. It’s going to be tough to do. I need to find someone dumber than I to carry it.

Moss Rock Garden

The Fire Moss is ‘blooming’.
As far as I’ve observed, fire moss is the first moss to form spore pods as the snow melts.

sometimes it doesn’t wait for the snow to melt

Ice Madness

I did make it to the river. Almost. I was kept at bay by the high water level. I’d guess it’s about 6 feet higher than normal.

I have more ice photos but this is enough for today.

Porcupine Madness

This is actually the last shot I took of them. I wanted to open with an obvious pair of porkies.

The first photo I took is not very revealing. It only shows the tip of the second porcupine’s tail.

Not a snuggle bunny

Tomorrow I’m headed to Lampson Falls on the Grasse River. While I’m in the area I hope to find some wintergreen. I’d love to catch the red berries against the snow. (fingers crossed)