On the river bank the other day there were several bare rocks among all of the snow-covered ones about 50 feet up from the water, and some lichens seemed to love that environment, living with the snow in a very pretty way.
February 26, 2018
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Montana Outdoors 
You caught them in their happy time! What great colours.
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Comment by Harold Rhenisch — February 26, 2018 @ 11:52 pm
Must have! They looked almost like a lighted display,
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Comment by montucky — February 26, 2018 @ 11:59 pm
Very interesting nature study. Thank You.
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Comment by Sartenada — February 27, 2018 @ 1:19 am
They are fascinating organisms.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 9:03 am
I know it’s just lichen, but nice to see something green and alive as the snow melts. Lichens are very attractive and your photos show them off with all their details.
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Comment by Vicki — February 27, 2018 @ 2:51 am
The contrast of the dark rocks against the snow and the color of the lichens on the rocks was very pleasant to see.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 9:04 am
I never appreciated lichen until I saw your photos. I guess I dismissed it as I would road dust. It’s far more interesting than that though, as I have learned.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — February 27, 2018 @ 8:46 am
In August (our hottest and driest month) these appear as just dry gray residue on the rocks. During the spring runoff they are under 10 feet of water. In winter they come to life and just sparkle.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 9:07 am
Very versatile and adaptable!
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — February 27, 2018 @ 9:37 am
So beautiful. So kind of lichen to be growing and lovely when most our plants are sleeping.
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Comment by Tammie — February 27, 2018 @ 11:20 am
Lichen not only live in their own little places, but seem to keep to a schedule unique to them. Their longevity though speaks for the success of their survival strategies. I think a lot of people enjoy their sometimes bright colors and interesting shapes without realizing exactly what they are,
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 12:24 pm
I love it! 🙂
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Comment by annicaaktiv — February 27, 2018 @ 1:31 pm
😊
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
They’re tiny little worlds of life! 🙂
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Comment by bayphotosbydonna — February 27, 2018 @ 1:39 pm
Indeed they are!
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 2:33 pm
They look like some type of shield lichen, and boy are they big! I don’t think I’ve ever seen them get that big. They must love it there!
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — February 27, 2018 @ 3:49 pm
I haven’t tried to identify them, but they literally cover the rocks along the river. Yes, the conditions must be exactly right there. I even found some of the same species (I think) growing on an old glass bottle, the brown glass ones that were used for beer in the 70’s.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 4:23 pm
Thats unusual!
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — February 27, 2018 @ 5:08 pm
They are really very lovely!
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Comment by Candace — February 27, 2018 @ 7:55 pm
They were a welcome sight in the middle of a large expanse of snow next to a river that was full of floating ice cakes.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 8:21 pm
It’s interesting how the texture of the lichens mimics the texture of the snow crystals. And that color — it’s such an unusual green, and just lovely. I’ve become more sensitive to lichens and mosses thanks to you and Steve, and have been looking a little more closely. I think I might have found something blooming at the nearby nature center — or doing whatever lichens do. I’m going to try and get back there in the next day or so and see if I can get better photos. Whatever it was, it was tiny, and on slender tree branches, and it was windy as could be. Now that the wind has laid, it will be easier.
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Comment by shoreacres — February 27, 2018 @ 8:54 pm
It will be interesting to see what you find! Here, lichens are practically everywhere and there are so many different species or types. All fascinating. They seem to have very successful survival strategies.
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Comment by montucky — February 27, 2018 @ 8:59 pm