So I know that some people think I’m crazy. I’m obsessed with moss and lichen and fungi. If you want to impress me, don’t give me diamonds. Take me somewhere where there are gnarled and mossy tree roots…

… the classic, soothing sound of gentle water… a cascading creek that gurgles gently between the undergrowth…

… a flowing waterfall…

… amazing dripping lichens of every shade of green…

… and where a lush green layer of spongey moss blankets the forest floor.

There is certainly some special and powerful energy ju-ju that comes from these ancient rainforests- and I feel the life pulsating and drink the wild air. Here everything is magical.

In these magical fairylands, you find some things that look quite different from plants, trees and animals. They might look squishy…

… crusty…

… fluffy…

… lacey…

…or hairy…

…and they can often be found growing on other plants or trees.

These mysterious life forms might look a bit alien, but they grow throughout earth! They are called mosses, lichen and fungi.

So if you’re a crazy like me… I thought I’d look for an easy explanation of what they are.

Mosses are simple plants. They have small leaves on a single stem. Mosses often grow in groups because being clumped together helps support each plant, and they can gather more water when they work together.

Fungi are neither plants or animals; they are their very own kingdom with over a million species. Unlike plants, fungi are unable to create their own nutrients through photosynthesis, so they absorb nutrients from different materials such as leaf litter, dead wood, trees, and other plants.

Lichen are very fascinating organisms, with approximately 3600 species. They are commonly associated with mosses, but are actually very different. They don’t have roots, leaves, or stems like mosses do. They are not just one, but two living things working together to live! Lichen are made of fungi and algae. The fungi makes the structure of the lichen and the algae photosynthesizes to make the food! And they come in a rich variety of colors, ranging from bright yellow, red, and orange to green, black, brown, silver, and gray.

And then there is just pure aesthetics of these organisms. With their other-worldly qualities, they inspire wonder and creativity for me.

Sometimes I don’t know what they are… and I don’t care. I just love them!

How about you? Do you think I am completely insane 😆

And then there’s the epiphytes… but I think I’ll just stop there…