Things That Caught My Eye

Treebeard and I went for a walk today - surprising, I know ;) Several things caught my eye as we rambled and I thought I'd share some of them with you.

First a little swamp art:

If you click on the image to enlarge it, you can more fully appreciate the Picasso-esque quality of this particular baldcypress knee. Baldcypress knees are kind of like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.

Next, a sort of Mother Nature still life...

An oyster mushroom bowl holding a nut and a leaf from a beech (Fagus grandifolia), a grape leaf, and a bit of dried grass. Variations on a theme of brown.

Then, a bit of snail graffiti. This time variations on a theme of gray.

But, in the winter woods, the eye is always drawn to a spot of color. This bright green was provided by Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides).

And then there were textures to appreciate. The smooth tupelo berry (Nyssa aquatica) resting against a bed of prickly baldcypress needles (Taxodium distichum), crunchy red maple leaves (Acer rubrum), and a tupelo leaf.

Last, but certainly not least, some very persistent blueberry leaves and some buds (probably Vaccinium corymbosum).