Back by popular demand, it's the annual
Moss issue! Don't worry, this post is not about swimsuits in the tropics - it's about that short green stuff that grows all over western Oregon in the winter shade - a.k.a.,
Bryophyta. What's a card-carrying wildflower fanatic to do in January, but to resort to posting about low life, non-vascular plants like moss?! In fact, after several field trips capturing all manner of moss, I may start a new series called "Fifty Shades of Green."
Getting back to the subject at hand, one could ask, "what good is moss?" When it gets on your roof or in your lawn, you may take a dim view of moss and that is completely understandable. But moss does actually have a few good features, such as using it for plant DNA research; and for many commercial uses by florists, nurseries, and decorative gardens. And in a pinch you can use moss as a sponge! Dried peat moss can be used as a soil additive, insulation, and for growing mushrooms. For additional moss factoids, go to last year's issue (link below).
Even though we are having a warmer than normal winter in our area, the moss is doing quite well, as you can see by these photos, all taken in the past few weeks. As we did last year, a few of the photos are posted here - if you just can't get enough moss, please visit my photo website (link below) or better yet, take a walk in one of our local nature parks, where you will find plenty of moss!
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| "The Mother of All Moss Walls" |
In closing, I'll leave you with "Moss," a poem by Bruce Guernsey, as seen on the Poetry Foundation website:
How must it be
to be moss,
that slipcover of rocks?—
imagine,
greening in the dark,
longing for north,
the silence
of birds gone south.
How does moss do it,
all day
in a dank place
and never a cough?—
a wet dust
where light fails,
where the chisel
cut the name.
Moss by Bruce Guernsey: The Poetry Foundation
Links:
2015 Moss Gallery
2014 Moss Issue
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