Withstanding Bat's Attack!

   While they are probably not the best things to have around the garden, case moths or bag worm moths are pretty intelligent creatures for just being a "dumb caterpillar" (not my description, for sure!).  The tiny caterpillars of these moths have home-building down to a science...literally!  The ingenuous cocoons should be studied by people and perhaps some of the methods could be copied to create sturdier homes.  These "caterpillar cabins" can withstand some pretty vigorous abuse and still stay intact.  

  This morning while Bat, the Bayou Prince Cat, and I were out in the garden, I noticed he had scampered up an old birdfeeder stand.  Bat is at that age where everything needs exploring and everything is fair game as a playground.   At the tiptop of the stand, he started batting at something.  On inspection, I found he was smacking a case moth cocoon.  This was one of the first ones that I have ever noticed that was completely made from lichen.  Most are made from leaves or sticks which helps them to blend in with the surroundings.  Well, this stand was lichen covered so the caterpillar chose lichen as a building material.  

  As I mentioned earlier, these critters can make pretty durable homes.  Bat tried his best to dislodge the case from the birdfeeder stand but had no luck.  Soon, he came tumbling down and the case stayed put.  The caterpillar will be happy to know that I will not bother it.  If it can withstand an attack from a crazy cat, it has my approval and can stay in the garden.

Alien Lifeforms???

  The other day, I saw something on social media that made me giggle.  A request was posted to "Describe 2018 in two words".  One answer was "It rained."  That, my friends, pretty much was the most accurate response that could have been made.  It rained.  And rained.  And rained.  So far, 2019 is starting out to be much the same.  This does not surprise me.  The sliced persimmon seeds predicted it.  Maybe those things are accurate...then again...maybe the rain caused the persimmon seeds to appear the way they did.  Still, to be honest, I find it great.  Rain is good no matter how you look at it.

  The copious amounts of rain has caused the ground to be a bit soggy and with the warm weather, this has caused profusion of fungi species to sprout up all over the place.  While some can be a bit smelly and others downright slimy, most are fascinatingly beautiful.  The hillside resembles some fantastical gnome kingdom.  Wandering the property, I keep waiting to find some happy little faerie sitting atop one of the 'srooms.  It just needs to be.  Not only are mushrooms taking over the place, mosses and lichens are flourishing, as well, in this warm. humid climate.  Down in the lower part of the front yard, an old oak tree is dropping a good many twigs that are covered with lichens of all kinds.  

  I am ever intrigued by the shapes and textures of lichens.  Some seriously remind me of an alien life form that has fallen to earth.  Contrary to what most folks believe, lichens are not parasitic plants that harm the host tree.  Instead they pretty much just use the tree for a place to anchor themselves.  They draw moisture and nutrients from the air.  They are often blamed for damaging trees since the lichens usually try to colonize on bark of twigs that are already dying.   They love damp areas with little air movement so the mugginess lately has been good to them.  Another thing that is good to know is that if you find a plethora of lichens in your trees, that usually means the air is rather clean and pure!  They prefer non-polluted areas and are rarely seen in places that cannot offer such.  Obviously, the Bayou and surrounding woods are blanketed with clean air as indicated by the overabundance of lichens!  

Watching the Lichens Grow!

  As rain threatened to fall from the sky at any given moment, I heard something rumbling around on the grill just outside the window. Hmmm, well, this needed inspecting.  I pondered if a squirrel had made a nest in the thing since it has been a long time since we have used it.  I peeked out the window to find, not a squirrel, but a possum.  The poor thing was searching for supper.  I figured that I might as well give it a quick meal since the rain and cold would not set well on an empty stomach.  Yep, I am that much a sucker for a hungry animal.  I scurried out the back door with some leftover sweet potatoes and pasta.  It would have to do since I had nothing else to offer.  The possum seemed grateful and started happily munching its supper.  While outside, I figured I might as well grab an armload of firewood from the woodpile.  A fire might feel right nice with the damp air filling the Little Bayou House.  My first piece of wood caused me to delay a bit as some lichen caught my eye.  A gooey Tree Ear fungus and a flat shield-type lichen begged to be photographed.  Well, I might as well go get the camera.  Possums and lichens both needed to have their pictures taken!

  By the time I returned, Mr. Possum had eaten his fill and waddled off down the hill to the marsh.  I missed my chance with him but at least the lichen was still hanging around waiting for me!  I took several photographs before the rain started and I had to scoot inside...but not without my firewood!  Later sitting in the warmth given off by the old woodstove, I looked at my photographs.  Lichens interest me to no end.   There is seemingly a never-ending batch of the things growing this winter with the lack of ice and the copious amount of rain.  The Tree Ear fungus was swollen to capacity with the moisture causing it to wiggle and jiggle like gelatin!  This time, however, it was the ruffly shield lichen that I found more intriguing.  It was the palest of greens on top and almost white on bottom.  There were black, hairlike protrusions wisping off the end of each "leaf".  Now if that was not a most unusual looking bit of life!  I have always said these things look a lot like alien life gone awry!

  Scientist have found that since lichens are slow growing and have a long life span, they can be used as geochronologic dating tools. (Geochronology being the dating of rocks and geologic events.) The method is called Lichenometry.  This is a big word meaning "Watching lichens grow"..not really, I made that up but it pretty much sums up the activity.  Being as lichens are some of the first things to grow on newly exposed rock, the rate at which the rock is covered can indicate a lot about climate change.  Evidently, lichens are pretty smart...or at least the scientists are.   Still, it is rather incredible that something most folks never really notice is highly important in the whole scheme of things.

  Lichens are rather misunderstood.  Most folks tend to think that because some grow on trees, they are parasitic.  They are not.  If a lichen is spied in the tree, it is on dead or dying wood.  In fact, you better worry more about a limb falling on your head than about a tiny lichen living happily on your tree!  To be honest, lichens are quite helpful.  They are indicative of clean air.  Look up in your trees.  If you see no lichens....hold your breath!  Not really but do find out just what can be done to help the quality of the air you are breathing.  Obviously, the air quality on the Bayou must be good as I have lichen laden trees!  I can breathe easy and also enjoy some pretty funky looking bits of life while out and about the hillside.

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.

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.

Lichens to dye for!

  I was pulling weeds in the garden spaces this morning when my hand hit something soft.  It was fluffy soft not squishy soft so it did not alarm me in the least.  Squishy soft makes me ponder if I have grabbed ahold to a slug or something even worse but fluffy soft cannot be that bad.  I mean think about it.  Fluffy soft can be a bird's feather, a baby bunny or, in the worse case scenario, a wad of dog hair.  Fluffy soft usually means not harmful in my brain.

  Looking down, I found lichen.  A lump of lichen had fallen from the Black Gum tree and I had grabbed it along with a clump of weeds.  (I suppose I should be happy that it was lichen and not another wolf spider. They are not particularly fond of being squeezed in a handful of rattlesnake weed.)  The lichen, on the other hand, was not putting up much of a fight at being grasped.  Still, the lichen demanded my attention.  This clump was a beauty!  From the pastel, mint-green color to the multi-limbed structure, the lichen was quite fascinating.  There had to be more to this lichen than just being a decoration on the tree!  Searching the ground, I found about a dozen more clumps.  Obviously, the stiff winds of a few nights ago had whipped the tender lichens from the tree branches.  For whatever reason, I gathered all I could find and sat to examine them even further.  I pondered just what these little things had to do with the whole scheme of life.  Somehow I am quite sure that if all lichens were eradicated, we would all suffer a great loss.

  Actually, scientists have discovered that about fifty percent of lichens have antibiotic properties and have shown great promise in treating a lot of diseases.  Herbalists have known this for years and have been using different lichens to treat a number of problems.  This often overlooked life form might hold the cure for some devastating illness!  Of course, I will never be the one that finds that cure but that does not stop my curiosity about lichens.  From the artist's point of view, I am more interested in the use of different lichens to produce dyes.  I pulled the lichens aside with grand intentions of experimenting.  Wouldn't it be interesting to make dyes like so very many years ago.  The rich blues and purples used in royal robes of early Europe and reds, browns and greens used in Scottish plaids were all made from lichens.  I have often threatened to experiment further with natural dyes so this little clump of lichen might kickstart my experiments!  Oooh!  A new art medium!  And to think it all started with weeding the garden!

Lichen it or not.....

Lichens..those weird things that grow on trees, downed limbs, rocks and anything that sits still long enough for them to catch hold. I find these things rather interesting in so many ways. Lichens are perhaps one of the most bizarre forms of life on this planet as they are actually made up of several different species of organisms. In one lichen, there can be fungus, algae and even a third thing called a cyanobacterium. I understand and sort of know what the algae is and the fungus..well..yeah..got a good idea about that one, too. But that other one..the cyanobacterium..hmm.. don't have a clue! Think about the lichen for a minute..this is one strange little plant (?)..animal (?)..entity(!)..(yeah! That is what it should be called! An entity!) The fungus and algae obviously get along quite well and have become dependent on each other to live. The algae part makes the food and the fungus part provides the structure part that holds it all together!

This picture of a lichen was taken on one of my walks into the creek area. There are entire trees that are covered with different lichens but this twig was actually close enough for me to get a clear picture. Although the lichens can be found growing on live and dead trees, the assumption that they harm the living tree is just that..an assumption. They do not harm the tree but merely live with it. I hear of people ridding their places of lichens..not me..I like them! Actually the lichens are a good indicator of the air quality in the area. They will not thrive in polluted places so if you find masses of lichens in your yard..rejoice! I am happy to report that I have a ton of lichens in the creek area and in the yard!

The walk in the creek that day, has renewed an interest in the lichens! I plan on making several more hikes just to photograph any I find. It will be fun to identify them and make new discoveries about them! There are so many uses for lichens..things like medicines, perfumes, food, and fabric dyes! Wow! Another lifeform that goes unnoticed except maybe by those who wish to eradicate it from their proximity. If they only knew!