Foliose Bark Lichen on Manzanita

[best appreciated at full size against black]

If you look closely at trees, you will notice that many of them are adorned with lichen, fungi, and molds of all kinds. What seems small and plain at a glance can be quite a spectacular thing when viewed through a macro lens. This frilly lichen is a favorite of mine because it has so many interesting shapes! It can look like so many things...a coral head...a deer's antlers...a lettuce leaf...did you know that there are approximately 17,000 kinds of lichen in the world?!! WOW! I think they are very interesting, and also very beautiful! (And by the way, the bark of this tree is smooth and silky to the touch and has such a feeling of warmth and life. You can feel its entity glowing if you close your eyes while you have your hand on it. Trees are very special, aren't they?)

I've uploaded two other pictures today and I hope you'll visit them too!

Thanks to all of you who have visited and have left comments and favorites! I try to go to all of your pages within a day or two and is a highlight for me to see your beautiful photography! :)

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www.flickr.com/people/sfhipchick/

This image was taken in February, 2012.