Lichen...nature as art

Have taken on lichen as newest "wildlife" challenge. These plants are extremely colorful and come in one of four growth "forms": foliose, fructicose, crustose, and squamulose. Just learning...so future blogs will dive into detail. Have gotten great book to unravel all things lichen, Lichens of North America by Brodo, Sharnof, Sharnof (2001). Book is as heavy as the rock lichens grow on...how appropriate! Finding out these plants are very difficult to identify without a lot of work...then again need challenge and something to do. Check out this photo taken at Bass Creek, Bitterroot Mountains on large boulder:


Several lichen species...easy to find, photograph and appreciate...a bear to identify