The gills of this mushroom had pale hint of purple.
A small ephemeral pond had small trees including a couple that hosting some beautiful lichens! Some of the ponds do hold water but many just slow the water down like this one. The Soil Conservation Service (now NRCS) built many ponds and berms on the grasslands back in the 1940’s before handing the grasslands over to the Forest Service.
Among the fruticose lichens were a Sinewed Bushy Lichen (Ramalina americana). Its apothecia (fruiting bodies) are on the tips of the lobes in this species. Unlike plants, lichens do not have roots. They have rhizines that are their holdfasts.
Nearby we found this spot eroding.
In place some of the soil/clods have a green cast. However you will just have to take my word for it because the camera didn’t capture the color.
Along the many of the edges you will find a variety of mosses and lichens.
Turban Cap Lichen (Cladonia peziziformis) is one such lichen that can be found along these edges.
These spots are very interesting to see the roots of the plants above. Furthermore the soil layers can be observed as well.
Another gully was just a round the bend. So you know where we headed next. 🙂
Got your bird feeders filled for predicted snow tomorrow? Mine are!
The snakes really surprised me. Love the color of that mushroom.
Had no idea walnuts and pecans could switch genders and for 40+ millions of years!