In the last month, quite a bit of rain has fallen.  I’ve noticed thick carpets of moss, lichen and other tiny ground covers growing thicker and richer in colour.  At the moment, I don’t know the names of the specific species, but over the next few weeks I will do some research and try to identify each of them.

I’ve posted these photos as a gallery, so to view the fascinating details of each type, I suggest clicking on the first photo and viewing them all full-screen.

This log rests beneath a large tree, on the Eastern side of the dam wall, which also shades it from afternoon sun.

It appears that something lives in the hollow. On top, a rich green carpet of moss.

The moss also grows on the ground in various places. The South Eastern corner of our block has the richest variety, and that is where I found this one.

I suspect this is not called moss, nor lichen, but I don’t know what it is. My search so far has been fruitless. However, The mass of star shapes, and the range of colours, makes this one of my favorites.

Growing over the blackened tree stump, I’m reminded of alphalpha sprouts when I look at this one.

This trio of moss ‘cushions’ looks soft enough to sit on, but I don’t think I would.

This is the most common form of moss we have here.

I pass this spot on m walk each morning. Each time, depending on the intensity of the light, the colour looks slightly different. It turns from an intense burnt orange to a rusted red, or tan. Whatever the colour, contrasted with the bright, fresh green, it is eye-catching.

This patch is growing on an area of ground formerly used for burning off.

The intense colours are heightened against the black of the charred ground.

I don’t have a macro lens, but I think this shot shows some of the structure of the plant.