Back on the Trail Again

Since I haven’t done a blog posting in awhile I decided it was time to stroll down the Trail and take some pictures.  I recently acquired a new smaller camera and a new small lens and I needed to test them out.  See what you think.

Sunlight was illuminating the air plants that covered the Live Oak tree.

 

As I love the texture of the bark, I thought the oak was worth another look.

 

The Spanish Moss appeared to have a golden glow in the sunlight.

 

As did the Turkey Tails on the tree.

 

A half dozen species of wildflowers were blooming.  Some of the Twinberrys, a member of the Coffee Family, were in flower.

 

Here is a Twinberry bud and, if you look along the right edge, you will see the twin red fruits looking like small match heads.

 

I was really pleased with the performance of the new camera and lens and was happy to get back on the Trail.

Ferns and Oaks

Lining the banks of the river are the leaves of the Giant Leather Fern.

 

Here’s a closer look at the spores which cover the underside of the leaves.

 

Look up and you will see another fern, Golden Polyploidy, hanging from the limb of an Oak tree.

 

An Oak also provides a home for the Southern Needleleaf air plants.

 

And finally, for a bit of color, here is the flower of the Sensitive Briar vine.

 

If you are tempted to reach out and grab the flower, better think twice.  Here is a closer look at the sharp bristles along the stalk.

 

That’s all for now – but standby for future postings. 

I Like Lichens

The Trail contains a never ending variety of lichens.  Look down and you see Raindeer Moss.  If it hasn’t rained in awhile the little balls contract.  Pour some water on them and they will start to puff out.  This type of lichen is a good indicator air pollution so it’s always nice to see them out in force.

Look up and you will see some light green stringy lichens that hand from the tree like Spanish moss

This is clearly worth a closer look.  If you look really close you will see some cup-shaped lichens clinging to the branch.

And still another lichen with its fuzzy tentacles reaching out.

Here is a branch covered with lichens and supporting a Cardinal Airplant.  It amazed me that such a small a branch could provide so much support.

That’s all for now – but standby for future postings.

The Side Loop

There is a little side loop which contains a wonderful mix of interesting plants and fungi.  Southern Needleleafs airplants adorn the Oaks –

A Cardnal Airplant rests on a vine –

But don’t just look up – look down and see the Turkey Tails adorning the trunks of the Dahoon –

A Turkey Tail and Southern Needleleaf living side by side –

Look a little more and you will find Snow Fungus –

Look down on the ground by the bench and you will see a mat of little green leaves –

It is Twinberry or Partridgeberry which is a member of the Coffee Family.  It produces pairs of dark red buds which become little white flowers 

That’s all for now – but standby for future postings.

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