Signs of spring on the mountainside are far more subtle than in my flower garden but no less fascinating. Mosses and lichens are flowering & fruiting and have their brightest colors while it is cool and damp, blueberry bushes are budding and salamanders are laying their eggs while caddisflies are feasting on them. Come and see!
spotted salamander eggs
ptilostomus caddisfly wrapped in a leaf covering feasting on eggs. can you see it?
moss “blooming”. Once it reproduces you will just see the familiar green
Bubble gum lichen fruiting
lipstick powderhorn lichen. You can see at least 3 other types of lichens or mosses in this tiny micro-community nestled between pink and white quartz
blueberry buds – mountain blueberries often grow near mosses where there are pockets of moisture
moss & lichen community – how many types can you see in this photo?
mossy slope – the soils here eroded long ago due to overgrazing of sheep in the late 1800s and a devastating fire in the early 1900s. I wonder how long it will take for these plants to break down the rock into new soil?
my beloved waiting patiently while I photograph moss. No jacket! Another sign of spring.
A couple great resources for identifying the plants and critters you find on your spring walks.
New Hampshire garden solutions – one of my favorite blogs – full of local wild plants!
University of Maine Vernal Pool Guide
More interpretations of this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Spring
composting words 
your spring microcosms are delightful and so well captured. And good to have a companion – especially a patient one!
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Thanks Laura. And you are right it is very good to have a patient companion. I am very blessed. 🙂
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