The Wonders Never Cease

  If I had my way, I would tromp around in the woods, on the hillside, in the creek or even in the Bayou most every day.  It seems that I find peace in amongst the flora and fauna that few ever see.  Then again, I see things that many seldom see.  It is just in me to investigate whatever is thrown in my path.  I can see the beauty in a rotten log, the worth of dead leaves and the sheer elegance of a bird's feather.  Things like these excite me much more than my human counterparts ever do. Son tells me that I would make a good hermit...hermitess?  Whatever.

  While out walking just a bit before the sun set, I noticed a bit of lichen that had fallen from an oak tree.  What called my attention to the otherwise drab piece was the glint of sunshine beaming through a small hole in the twig on which the lichen had grown.  This made the bit of fluff seem more like a faerie land delight than some organism akin to algae.  The sunlight gave the lichen a sort of mystical, magical appearance.  It drew me within and I had to inspect this wonder!  

  Lichens were once described as "Fungus that has discovered agriculture" by lichenologist Trevor Goward.  This makes a lot of sense when you think about it.  Lichens are symbiotic organisms made of fungus and either algae or what used to be called blue-green algae (now called cyanobacteria).  The fungus needs the one or both of the others to survive as they provide the "food".  The fungus provides the structure.  This is sort of a neat thing when you think about it...or IF you think about it.  Most folks do not...I do.  Lichens are some of my favorite organisms found around the Bayou.  They are such a diverse group with hundreds of different types!  All of which (most of the time) go unnoticed.  I only wish that I had the knowledge that Mr. Goward has and could identify all the lichens that are found in the Bayou and creek. What fun it would be to hunt and photograph each one.  Perhaps none would intrigue me as much as ones backlit by a setting sun but I am certain that each would interest me.  Folks, why not go out and look at the world around you?  It is amazing out there!  You miss so very much by not exploring.