There’s a beauty about lichen don’t you think? There’s one type today I noticed that looked to me as if they were a cluster of fine silk ribbons held loosely together on a bare stem.
I am no expert on lichens - I just find them intriguing. They certainly are interesting subjects to photograph. The ancient Egyptians found them useful too – they packed their mummies in them and before modern dyes were invented people mixed the different coloured lichens to make natural dyes.
So many walk past these trees each day along the lade and I wonder how many notice the finer details as they walk along that little path. I could not walk past this little collection of lichen without taking a photograph. The bare branches are coming to life again with new burgundy buds along with the melody of colour and texture from the different lichens clustered together.
And then as I reach home I see more ribbons but this time in my own garden in the form of the many witch hazels I grow. Welcome to my winter larder!
 |  |
 |  |
Its another melody of colour as the witch hazels are starting to break into full bloom along with the delicate scent of the witch hazel Pallida.
What are your favourite melodies in nature?
24 comments:
I agree, they are beautiful. So are your photos!
I think lichens are beautiful as well and you witch hazels are stunning
You have some wonderful lichens there! Very colorful indeed. And what a nice group of witch hazels. I keep looking at Jelena, her flowers are fabulous. We have Diane and Arnold Promise.
You asked what orchids we grow outside, we don't grow any in the ground, but do summer all of them, Paphs and Catts in a shady spot.
Frances
I see that you are very tuned in to nature. Most people wouldn't even notice the lichens. One of the reasons I love winter gardens so much is because they teach me to look closely at nature.
Beautiful Pictures.
Cindee
The lichen and witch hazel blooms brighten up a winter's garden. The witch hazels have nice names too.
I have an affinity for lichens and mosses, too! You are great at recognizing the small but beautiful details that many people miss. I really like your witch hazels! I have a couple, but no blooms yet.
What beautiful ribbon streamers those witch hazels are! I have to admit I've never met one in real life (or if I have, it was not in bloom), and you're helping us get to know each other.
I'm a fan of most lichens, although I always thought it was a strange thing to enjoy. Glad to know I'm not alone. :)
Lovely photos!
I spend a lot of time picking up dead branches, one of the perks of having a lot of big trees. Whenever there's lichen on a branch, it's hard for me to throw it on the pile with the rest. I want to put it somewhere special where we can enjoy the little ribbons or the ruffles.
It's the same with moss with all its textures, tiny wild ferns, dead limbs that have lost their bark leaving 'tree bones' and fallen blossoms from the Taiwan cherry. I cherish each form and color.
What a wondrous eye you have my dear!!! You are right so many most likely walk on by... just walk on by... oh dear! and never notice the jewels you are showcasing. I feel lichens are very special too... sometimes I do worry about the limbs they are growing on however. Nothing goes to waste... lichens of so many varieties I do not know the names of either... are like little miniature forests... some with outrageous colors and textures... I love your ribbon metaphor. You have gorgeous Witch Hazel blooms with such lovely names. Those are the fun ribbons you take a sharp dull edge to ... to make them curl! ;>))
Wonderful images! I think most of the people don't notice lichens. But we, gardeners, do notice them! Thank you!
Absolutely beautiful blog--you are very talented. The lichen is a work of art all by itself.
What a great post. Your pictures are fantastic. Sometimes the littest things are what gives us the most joy.
My husband and I were walking in a park near the waterway the other day. Most of the trees were simply covered in lichens. I think they're pretty, but in an odd, haunting way :D
All of your witch hazels are so neat! Before reading your blog, I don't think I had ever seen one growing before.
Dear Rosie, You are so right. So much to see and yet so much so easily missed. We do all need to train our eyes to become close observers of nature. In this instance, of course, we are able to rely on your splendid photographs.
I was interested in what you had to say about the ancient Egyptians.
Hi Rosie,
I love lichen too. It is not humid enough for them to grow in branches or trees here, but we do have them on rocks. I was at a client's house last week and there was a large boulder with 3 different types of lichen - just beautiful.
I love lichens and mosses and I always paint them in my books. They are little bits and pieces of nature which are so fascinating if we really take the time to observe them.
Jeri
Hello everyone and thankyou for all the comments - I was not well for a day so I am alittle behind in replying to your comments so I'll just pick out a few to comment on and visit the rest of you on your blogs.
I am glad that you all find lichen as fascinating as I do in nature - and as for the witchhazel blooms they are something special as garden plants or should I say trees at this time of year. Carol your description of curling the ribbons with a dull edge is perfect - I do that every week and never thought about the connection - I'll remember that from now on. Edith I also had no idea about the Egyptians using lichen until this week. Noelle when I was writing this I wondered if you would have lichen in the desert.Jeri when my boys were young and we used to read story books together we always spent loads of time looking at the illustrations and picking out the finest of details and talking about them - all the flora and fauna was something I liked to see in a picture.
There seems to be beauty every where, only if we pause and look closer.... As a friend says, Beauty is the armor!
~bangchik
Rosie, when I worked at the flower shop at Harrods, we used to glue lichen to Christmas wreaths, it was so silvery and beautiful.
they are very pretty aren't they? I don't have much for that type of thing here, so it is nice to look!
Wonderful pictures of lichen and witch hazel. Both are fascinating and lovely.
FlowerLady
Bangchik I agree there is such beauty around us - you do a great job at capturing it on camera too!
Deborah was that Harrods in London that you worked for? I realise that you have some links with the UK. Those wreaths must have looked good - I've never seen that done before. I'd rather leave them on the trees.
Tootsie - its probably too cold where you are in Canada.
Hi Flowerlady I am glad you enjoyed that - some people would overlook the simple things we have in creation but lichens have such a fascinating life structure - very complex indeed when you look closely at it - only the work of a Creator could do such a thing -
Hi there Rosie,
I also find lichen intriguing and beautiful. Very nice and enjoyable close ups.
Annelie
These are beautiful, and I haven't seen so many colors like those!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving a comment and I really appreciate you taking the time to do so. I'll either reply to you on my blog or else make a return visit to your blog over the next few days.