March 4, 2011
Versions of spring
Down by the river, Nature has many little gardens, each with its own unique version of spring.
This little shrub (height, about 6 inches) has decided it is time to put out new leaves in its little garden near the top of a large boulder just a few yards up from the river where it and its moss neighbors catch the still-weak rays of winter sun.
This moss garden measures about four feet by two feet and it covers much of the top of a very tall boulder right at the water’s edge. I admire the landscape artist Who created the scene!
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Montana Outdoors 
The moss garden could serve as a model for how one might choose to landscape a much larger garden! It’s beautiful… spring is coming soon!
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Comment by Victoria — March 4, 2011 @ 10:34 pm
I thought that too. The pattern would be just as nice with dramatic change of scale.
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Comment by montucky — March 4, 2011 @ 10:52 pm
Is that a currant bush? Really pretty amid the moss and the against the white snow. The moss garden is wonderful too.
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Comment by kateri — March 4, 2011 @ 11:17 pm
I don’t know what kind of bush that is, Kateri, but I have not seen any currants down there. In about May at the peak of the spring runoff, it will be under several feet of water, yet somehow it survives as do all of the mosses.
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Comment by montucky — March 4, 2011 @ 11:42 pm
Spring is glittering around you ! Lovely pictures of a japanesque looking garden. Very pretty !
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Comment by isathreadsoflife — March 5, 2011 @ 1:14 am
Yes, the moss and the boulders create lots of small pictures. The colors of the moss are now getting very bright as spring approaches.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 10:11 am
It really is like a little piece of landscape art. Both fascinating and beautiful to see winter as it melts into spring!
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Comment by Marcie — March 5, 2011 @ 6:49 am
After what has been a relatively harsh winter it is especially interesting to see the seasonal transition this year.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 10:13 am
The moss makes me think of a colony of sea lions basking in the sun.
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Comment by jomegat — March 5, 2011 @ 7:13 am
I can see that picture. The warmth of the sun would be the common element.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 10:15 am
I am always amazed by the contrast between our two worlds.
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Comment by burstmode — March 5, 2011 @ 8:00 am
From the Canadian border to the Gulf, approximately 2,000 miles. 47°27′ to 29°45′ latitude. 1.5 thousand (in the nearest town here) population to 5.5 million in Houston area. Still, one country.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 10:26 am
I would have never thought of moss for a garden! Looks great!
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Comment by Barbara — March 5, 2011 @ 11:08 am
These are cold weather mosses and they grow in sheltered areas out of the sun except the ones near the river. They thrive until late summer when they effectively go dormant.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:12 pm
Hi Montucky, Kudos! Lovely scenery in miniature! Have a super Saturday. Spring will be there soon! We have rain today here in TN.
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — March 5, 2011 @ 11:30 am
I think you will have spring long before we will this year. Have a great weekend!
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:13 pm
interesting. and must be nice to see some green in all that white!
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Comment by silken — March 5, 2011 @ 12:02 pm
It is, and these greens are varied and quite vivid. They fascinate me!
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:14 pm
Love the moss garden!
You must be so far ahead of us, or else the different attitudes are totally different ecosystems.
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Comment by sandy — March 5, 2011 @ 2:34 pm
This area has many diverse ecosystems. About 80 miles west of here is the wettest part of Montana, and about 30 miles northeast is the driest. There is normally about 20 degrees difference between the valley and the mountains, much more sometimes in winter. Life has learned to adapt.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:17 pm
Howdy!
Always a brief glimpse into what is yet to come, the full blossom of spring. Lovely – the emerald green against the gray rock. Just sparkles.
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Comment by Iona — March 5, 2011 @ 3:35 pm
Hi Iona! It’s so good to hear from you again! I hope you are doing very well!
Yes, there are pretty places along the river. Too few ever go there to see them.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:18 pm
Wow! I really like both photos and especially the 2nd because of the textures and colors. Love the moss!
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Comment by Anna — March 5, 2011 @ 6:49 pm
I too love the vivid colors of the winter moss. They thrive in that particular area.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:19 pm
Wow, you’ve got some green. Spring can;t be that far away!
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Comment by Bo Mackison — March 5, 2011 @ 6:57 pm
This land is just waiting for spring. It will then just explode with color, turning from white to green in just a few days. I’m really looking forward to it!
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:20 pm
How pretty. I’m glad you gave the dimensions because, with the second one in particular, the scale was really hard to determine. I would have thought it was much larger.
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Comment by Candace — March 5, 2011 @ 8:06 pm
Most of these mosses are small, but then they are growing on solid rock, probably where a little dust drifted in over time and they have anchored it down. The small patches of color are lichens and maybe they help anchor the mosses too. The whole area will be several feet under swiftly moving water for several weeks during spring runoff and yet they survive and don’t wash away.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 9:24 pm
It blows our minds what GOD can actually do, doesn’t it! =)
COME ON SPRING! =)
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Comment by Tricia — March 5, 2011 @ 10:23 pm
It is, and it’s also amazing how few people even venture out to see it.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2011 @ 11:33 pm
So powerful is nature! There beside the cold water and snow nearby, something sprouts! The moss picture is truly gorgeous. Like an abstract painting. You have a beautiful moving canvas up there in Montana. Thanks for coming over and saying something on my blog about crafting a walking stick. I see what you mean.
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Comment by Jack Matthews — March 6, 2011 @ 10:22 am
“Moving canvas” is an excellent way to describe it. thank you for the term!
I have a staff made from Hawthorn that I have used for over three years now. It’s the best wood I’ve found because of its hardness, but the hard part is finding a branch that is straight enough. I had to drive about 50 miles to find mine. I carefully shaved off the bark then with very fine paper sanded off the residue. It now has about a hundred coats of hand-rubbed linseed oil, and has shown no degradation whatsoever yet.
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Comment by montucky — March 6, 2011 @ 10:35 am
Moss gives the rocks a new beauty! Thanks for sharing your gift. xoxo Everyday Cowgirl
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Comment by Everyday Cowgirl — March 6, 2011 @ 9:22 pm
The bright colored winter mosses are favorites of mine. They like the cold weather and really brighten things up before all of the other green gets started in spring.
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Comment by montucky — March 6, 2011 @ 9:33 pm
I love the last sentence You said!!!
Awesome, awesome. I especially love the contrast in the last photo. First photo is also mighty, but in another way.
Thank You presenting these wonder of Nature.
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Comment by sartenada — March 11, 2011 @ 1:06 am
There is always something beautiful in nature just waiting to be seen. Time spent outdoors is always rewarded, I think.
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Comment by montucky — March 11, 2011 @ 10:40 am
Very impressive photos, I will be visiting your site for more updates
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Comment by Evangeline Art Photography — March 19, 2011 @ 11:27 pm
Thanks!
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Comment by montucky — March 20, 2011 @ 9:09 pm