Christmas in the Oaks?

  A walk down to the end of the lane left me a bit bewildered yet at the same time spellbound.  Just at the fork of the lane is a large Live Oak Tree.  The tree, itself, is interesting since it leans at a peculiar angle. Years and years ago, Hurricane Camille laid a good many of the oaks over on their sides.  The sheer size of the trees made them impossible to set straight so they were left to grow as they were. Large limbs acted as props allowing the trees to flourish even in this strange state.  The huge limbs made for easy climbing when I was but a kid but that is not what intrigued me today.

  As I meandered beneath the tree, I noticed that most of the limbs were moss covered.  A lovely layer of soft green covered the upper portion of the branch.  Mingled in with the moss was a fantastic array of Resurrection Ferns.  These ferns are so-called as they have a habit of coming out of a dormant stage or resurrecting during a rainy season.  During times of drought, the ferns sit withered appearing dead.  Once rains start pelting the dried leaves, the leaves absorb moisture and unfurl.  In just a matter of a day, they will be bright green and lush!  These ferns grow on most of the oaks in the area. They do not damage the tree in the least as they feed on nutrients that collect on the outer bark.  But it was not only the fairyland delight of green moss and ferns that drew my attention to the tree. The bottom portion of the limbs were bright red. So red, in fact, that with the setting sun, the branch seemed almost to be ablaze.

  Closer inspection led to the discovery that this was a lichen.  I have seen this before but never to this extent.  The rainy spring caused the lichen to flourish along with the moss and ferns.  This entire tree and those next to it were all blanketed with red and green lichen. With the true name of Cryptothecia Rubrocincta it is easy to see why folks around here call it by a much easier name.  The bright colors of red and green caused the lichen to be labeled as Christmas Wreath Lichen or just Christmas Moss.  (To a lot of folks, mushrooms, lichens, mosses and fungi are all one and the same!)  Anyway, to say that I was captivated by the appearance of the oak branches is an understatement.  I was totally transported into that mystical place known as my imagination!  This is stuff that sets my brain afire with all sorts of fantastical thoughts! Some day....some day, I am going to find one of those elusive fairies that live in just such places! Things like this tree make my hikes enjoyable.