Monday, March 8, 2010

Lots of lichen

Saturday was an absolutely lovely day here in Portland! Time to take care of the final garden clean up duties and get ready for spring planting! Of course every bit of my being wanted to just jump forward to the spring planting part, but because I’ve heard about a wet and cold week ahead I was a good girl and held off on that.One of our Japanese Snowbell trees had a few crossing branches that needed to be removed, as I took care of this I noticed the interesting collection of lichen that had developed on the trunk and branches over the winter. I don't believe they are harmful, so I just enjoyed their color and form. Will they stick around through the hot dry summer months? Dunno…but I’ll be watching.

11 comments:

  1. So beautiful! I have been working on a lichen post too, slowwwly. I wonder if they are more lively this spring too, along with all the blossoms. You were right to hold off - we saw snowflakes here today!!

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  2. I have always been told that they are harmless to the tree, and on top of that, are an indication that the surrounding air is relatively pollution free.

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  3. I think they stay around all year...but just dry out in the summer time. They are great..not certain how harmful though

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  4. I wonder if there are certain trees that do a better job of growing lichens. I dream of a lichen covered tree, they add such age and character to the garden.

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  5. They are gorgeous! I LOVE lichen (and mosses for that matter) And yes, in NO way harmful to the tree.

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  6. I wish I had it on my trees but they're all still too young. I caught a friend of mine scrubbing it off her apple trees the other day. I wanted to steal it and put it on my trees! (Hm, I wonder if that could work?)

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  7. Karen, perhaps you are correct, something about this winter allowed for their increased formation?

    Dirty Girl Gardening, thanks!

    Les, well that is unexpected good news! Especially since we live in the radon center of the universe.

    faroutflora, I will be keeping an eye out. Although once all the leaves take over it will be more difficult to see them.

    Megan, interesting...I hadn't thought of that but I suppose it makes sense.

    Greensparrow, thank you. I love moss too!

    Kate, are you serious? As in she wanted cleaner trees or she thought it was harmful? You should totally try the stealing!

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  8. Your lichen seems to be playing by danger garden rules: more interesting and design-y than most.

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  9. Loree, I posted on Megan's blog a reference to that long predicted cold snap that finally wore down the warmth of an early spring. Thankfully we had a decent weekend to garden. Like Les, I've heard that lichen is not I concur that they dry out with drier weather. I've got a mossy rock in my courtyard as evidence. Actually I've got moss all over the place....

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  10. ricki, ha! I like it :)

    Grace, I'm not giving up. This cold business is a fluke, soon to be driven away and we'll get back to the gardening business at hand.

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