A wooly fleece of lichen clothed a winter-bare stand of hardwood trees just east of town. I thought the horses set off the color of the lichen to great advantage, don't you?
And don't miss this great page of ten things you should know about lichen.
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17 comments:
You have singlehandedly made me love lichen.
This is a glorious picture. I'm going to stare at it for a while.
Talk about a takeover...this lichen is abundant, and yes, the horses contrast well. Very pretty.
The horses look well fed and happy. I am not sure the lichen is good for the trees but it looks nice.
All that green is lichen? Wow.
Of course, I got attracted by the horses too. This is a scene that I will never see in Metro Manila. It's lovely.
Very interesting! Thank you for the link to the lichen information: so vast is my ignorance.
The horses do set off the background (or is that the other way 'round?) so nicely...
Yes the horsies are a nice contrast to all the green hues in this photo.
Neigh!!!
It could be Kentucky racehorse corral if the horses weren't of stocky stock.
I've taken lichen pictures recently for you. Maybe I'll send them or do a USElaine tribute post. I haven't decided. Do you like moss? Maybe it's moss and not lichen. I'll have to read the ten things.
By following the "10" link, I now know that ground lichen are used as a natural dye in Navaho blankets. Blankets that might be used under the saddle of these very same horses.
hmm... stocky stock? Interesting how the black stockings on the right hand horse make the legs look thicker. Reminds me of my college choir director suggesting that good altos had think ankles. Suppose the horse on the right whinnies in the alto section?
Lichen looks wonderful, doesn't it damage the trees, the horses seem to be enjoying themselves.
Laurie - I'm so proud! 8^) Until about a year ago, I was unaware of its astounding symbiotic nature myself.
Bibi - We are truly blessed with a bountiful supply.
Abe - It's a common misconception that lichen are harmful to the trees. The "ten things" link explains how that may have been concluded.
Hilda - Thanks!
Z - You got my meaning perfectly the first time. 8^)
Halcyon - The brown of the animals really "pops" the unique lichen green, which naturally is the subject of my photo. 8^)
P - These are almost certainly American Quarter Horses, rather than thoroughbreds, and are typical of livestock ranching areas. Lichens in Pasadena? Maybe your air isn't as bad as I thought! Thanks for thinking of me.
PA - I enjoyed finding out about their critical importance to caribou and reindeer too.
Chuck - Hmm. Are you saying we altos are "big-boned gals"? I think this guy in the picture would prefer you called him a baritone.
D Rebel - I'm happy to say it does NOT damage the trees. It takes all the nutrients it needs from the air and sunlight!
Thank you all for coming by to share my enthusiasm!
I had a couple of horses when I was younger which doesn't make me an expert, but these horses look thicker than Quarter Horses to me. Perhaps some kind of mix? They look like good, powerful farm stock. Strong dudes, or perhaps dudettes.
I'm lichen it already!
...
[ahem]
I'll get my coat.
Heres some obscure info on the horses. When the scare about taking female hormones came out, the market for the medication fell. As a result, many of the mares that provided the estrogen were no longer needed/wanted. As a result they were unloaded on the market (often pregnant). My friend took in a couple. They are quarter horses that are crossed with draft breeds to increase size and urine production. Her horses remind me these horses.
That could be it, PA. These horses look not quite like draft horses, but not quarter horses either. Interesting story, I had no idea.
I guess I'm not seeing what y'all are seeing, but this is an interesting discussion. I'm used to quarter horses being built like the wrestling team, and TBs being the ballet dancers, and draft horses being the football players. The legs on these just don't seem unusually thick to me. Maybe the photographic compression has affected their appearance (I used the little zoom on my camera). Dunno. I suppose they could be pregnant, but I thought I saw some dangly bits on one of them. I don't know who they belong to. Hmm. Interesting.
Of course, I'm distracted by the REAL subject of this photo - all that amazing lichen! I mean, LOOK at all that stuff!!! It looks like it's been sprayed on by a giant tree-flocking machine! 8^)
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