2018-01-19 - Friday - Not much snow

There wasn't much snow left on Friday. It goes away pretty quickly here.

I am always struck by the amount of lichen we have around the house and it really popped against the snow. Beautiful stuff, that nature.

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2017-09-01 - Friday - Yard update

Since we all lead busy lives I can miss what's happening in the yard for weeks or months sometimes. Knowing that, I make a conscious effort to look around periodically and enjoy our space.

We have lots of lichen on our trees.

Here's a closer view.

With the recent rain we had a mushroom bloom.

All kinds of mushrooms.

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2015-10-03 - Saturday - Liken the lichen

If you're a regular reader of this blog you will probably know that I really like the lichen (and moss) that grows around our yard.

Saturday it was cloudy and the lichen looked almost luminescent. I've heard it lights up under a black light, but I've never tried it. I just enjoy looking at it in all the different natural lighting that nature provides.

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2014-12-18 - Thursday - Lichen, chicken and dumplings, and more assembly

Thursday night I met Karen and Meredith at Lupie's Cafe for chicken and dumplings. While standing outside waiting for them to arrive I noticed the lichen on the awning over the door.

After a nice, filling meal I left for Clayworks and added some more pieces to my pots in progress. I added "wing" handles to the penguin pot and more pieces to the new raku form.

I like lichen.

The penguin and the bucket went to sea.

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August 19 - Sunday guild picnic

Sunday I attended the Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Guild picnic.  Frank and Verna Witt were gracious hosts for the annual guild picnic.  We had a nice time catching up with friends and eating some tasty food.

When it was over I stayed to help clean up and Frank and Verna asked me to stay and visit.  I love sharing the gloaming with friends.  It's a great way to wind down the day.

Around the pool.

Lisa and Angela.

The buffet line.

The lichen line.
(I love lichen.)

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2010-04-07 Wednesday - Part I

Spring has sprung here.  The willow oaks in the front yard have leafed out almost overnight.  Just two weeks ago we had our sale on the front lawn and there was no shade from the trees.  Now they almost look like they do in Summer.

The azaleas are in bloom, the pollen has coated everything (and everyone), and the catkins have fallen off the trees --everywhere.  They pile up like leaves in Autumn and generally make a mess of things.  Now the maple seeds are falling and that will be the next mess we have to clean.  It really never ends. 

Willow oak leaves have popped.

Here's how it looks now...

...and here's how it looked just two weeks ago --no shade.

Have I mentioned that I like our lichen?

Azaleas are blooming like small explosions.

Lenten roses and azaleas in the front part of the yard.

Catkins everywhere.

They pile up in the gutters.

Man, that's some good lookin' lichen.

Close up of the azaleas.

Closer...

Hey, wait a minute!  There's tree pollen in those flowers.

(I told you it was everywhere.)

Catkins on the back deck.

The hostas in the saucer have unfurled.

(Thanks Becky!)

Binkley doesn't mind the catkins.

Pollen all over the mower.

Wild violets in the lawn.

Dancing azaleas.

Catkins falling from the willow oak trees.

2010-03-11 Thursday - The Flu 2010

I was fortunate enough to catch the flu this week so I have had some time (some of it lucid) on my hands.  Most of my time has been spent sleeping with the strangest dreams (even by bizarre dream standards), but I have been up and about the house at times.  I am now kicking hard back towards the surface and hope to be past this soon.

All this moss and lichen, is this in some primeval forest?

Nope, it's our front yard.

As soon as you get the camera out

everyone wants to get into the act.

2009-08-15 Saturday Fungus

Our willow oaks in the front yard threw some more limbs down at us last week and I finally got around to cleaning them up today. I took my trusty bow saw, cut them up and took them to the curb. During the course of my sawing I noticed some very pretty fungus growing on one of the logs and set it aside until I was finished and could get my camera.

I am familiar with all the lichen (photo), moss and fungi we have everywhere (we're even growing lichen on the concrete sidewalk), but I hadn't seen this species before. It looks like something you would expect to find on a coral reef, but there it was in our yard.

I'm constantly amazed without venturing beyond our 1/3 of an acre.

Coral-like fungus.

Detail of the middle.

Wider shot showing the immature ones (upper middle)
that are fuzzy and just starting to develop the ribbing.
Those green, grassy looking blades appear to be growing out of the fungus.