colors of the winter woods December 28, 2006
Posted by Sandy in photographs.trackback
I was surprised this week to find so much color in the winter woods. Bright varieties of moss and fungus were everywhere. Here are just a couple of the photos taken last Sunday morning. If anyone knows anything about moss, could you identify the red one for me, please?
Can’t help with the id but they really are beautiful! Thanks!
Beautiful colors Sandy! My botany prof told me to id moss correctly I had to put it under a microscope to see all of their little features. That’s really interesting fungus!
Beautiful photographs, as always!
Sandy,
I have no idea how I got to this beautiful page, but I am so glad I did!I think it all started with the Garden Web, but I am kind of lost right now. Your moss picture is so lovely. There is a chance the red mosses are that hue to protect themselves from too much ultraviolet light, but I am not sure of that. There is a great book called, Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer that I got that factoid from, but you would be better off to get yourself a moss key.There is also a website called The World of Mosses that I found helpful. Mosses are a confusing topic. So many things are called moss, but are not like Spanish moss for example. In your picture there are at least 3 different kinds of moss and at least one lichen–what we call reindeer moss, but is not a true moss, but a lichen.
I write for the County Extension Master Gardeners program here in NH and recently wrote a piece on how green the mosses are right now without the ususal snow. I think that is why this picture really spoke to me. Good luck with your id. It’s worth the effort–mosses are fascinating.
Thanks Helen, Glad you stopped by. I will look for that book at Borders, and check out the site you mentioned. The greens do seem to be brighter this year, for sure. This shot was taken at the edge of a small pond, and the area around it is always quite damp.
Stop in again, I think I may add links for information in the future, when I find them. Stop in again.
I think I have found out what the red one is. My Aububon Field Guide to New England isays that peat (sphagnum) can be yellow green to red. This is a good book, but only has four kinds of moss.
I think you’re right– it does look like Sphagnum, but I’ve never seen it so red. Maybe it’s a winter thing (blocks the sun)… I’m better with lichens than mosses, but need a higher res photo in any case. Helen’s right– at least 3 mosses and several lichens… and a nice little baby hemlock. I loved the lichens and mosses of Maine last summer!
Thanks for stopping by Foothills Fancies– Maine to New Mexico will be quite a change! Keep me posted… (probably pinon jays more than scrub jays down there, but VERY similar!)…
Best, Sally