It was spring in Tasmania—September 16, to be precise—and I had the whole weekend free for exploration. I’d spent Friday night in Launceston and had driven southwestward around Great Lake, then back to the northwest through Deloraine to Devonport for the night. I’d made an early start today and driven southward to Mole Creek and then turned westward toward the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. Just about the time I entered the Mole Creek Karst National Park, the cloud cover I’d been keeping an eye on all morning darkened and the drizzle I had been expecting all morning began to fall, adding another dimension to the already magnificent diversity of lichens, mosses, and wildflowers. A short time later I entered the Middlesex Plain and came upon an expansive area where an ancient fire had caused the death of many large eucalypts.
Nature had been very busy, slowly but inevitably processing and reclaiming the wealth of raw materials that the event had provided. And now it began to rain, lightly at first. I stopped and parked near Weaning Paddock Creek. I was prepared for rain with a lovely wide-brimmed Australian hat and a good Gore-Tex jacket, and I attached my camera to my trusty tripod, cradled it inside my jacket to keep it as dry as possible, and squelched out into the plain for a closer look at this fantastic landscape.
I was able to stay out for maybe half an hour, no longer, until the rain began in earnest and the wind started up. I don’t think I’ve seen such an amazing array of lichens anywhere to match what I found, and I would have loved to spend at least a couple of hours happily exploring the wonders, large and small, that were there for the patient observer to discover, but to continue I would have needed a faithful companion with a very large umbrella. I reluctantly made my wet way back to my car, brimming with excitement and awe. I was sorry to have to leave much too soon, but I immediately entered it very high on my list of places to revisit!
krikitarts 
Oh, this is such a beautiful series of photos!! The last one actually reminds me of something that you would find at the bottom of the ocean. Great post! These are the type of photos that can entertain your eyes for such a long time because there are so many little details to take in.
Wow! Such high compliments! These apparently strike a harmonious chord in your soul as well…when (not if) I do go back, would you like to come along, and we can take turns holding the big umbrella for each other? I, too, can get lost in these miniature forest worlds.
And maybe we might even see some of the fairy folk!! :). I know you like photographing lichen, but what about fungi? I also find myself fascinated with the different varieties and their shapes and textures. I have a really cool shot that I think I will post tomorrow for my texture theme. Watch for it!
Yup, I like fungi, too! Good idea for a follow-up to my lichen series–I’ll keep it well in mind. I’m eager to see yours tomorrow!
I love your lichens. They are so full of color and texture. I imagine being .5″ tall (again) and wandering through this world. Wouldn’t that be amazing???
I plan to be getting in a lot closer when I have the chance to study some new ones this spring and summer, with exactly your thought in mind; I’ll imagine that you’re there in minute form and let Little Dezra watch over my shoulder and help to guide me–OK?
Sounds great! Just don’t let any bugs eat me. :)
Deal!
Love this post and your photos (and those you took in Finland – gorgeous). I’m a lichen fan too – I was enchanted when on a camping trip to the shores of Lake Superior a year or so ago I found lichen growing all over the sandy ground, like moss. I’m going to follow your blog and look forward to more “likin’ lichen” and anything else you will be posting. (I’m into music too, and write about it – and nature – on my blog). Thanks again for the great post!
You’re very welcome! I’ll plan another lichen post in the very near future–now probably tomorrow.
Such cool images — they really do look like coral, don’t they?
Yup, the coral-like ones can be truly spectacular. It’s amazing how many different shapes and forms they can take!
never thought Lichen would be that pretty :) thanks for sharing.
You are most welcome!
I was on the verge of posting an entry called “Lichen or not..” thanks for more inspiration!
Always delighted to share inspiration and help to spread it around!
The images, the colour…so natural…so simple…and yet so amazing!! Lovely photos.
Thanks for the compliment, Nelly–I followed you back, and am very impressed with your floral collection. Also, I’ve been to Helsinki a number of times and your photo essay brought back lots of lovely memories. Oh, the huge wok on the esplanade–made my mouth water again!
Hi, thank you for browsing my blog. I think being able to share photos and travel experience here on cyberspace is amazing. It reminds us of the amazing globe we live in. I have so much more floral collections I haven’t published, so hope to share many more images soon. Keep uploading….I will be visiting regularly :). Take care.
Hi Nelly, looking forward to sharing lots more!
Stunning photos. I live in Western Washington and have my fair share of moss photos. Some of it looks like a mini forest…so facinating. Thanks fr sharing.
The mini-forest ones are especially interesting, I agree. Thanks!
Oh, lichens are one of my favourite life forms. They are literally everywhere, even on top of brick walls here in the area, and they never fail to dazzle me with their vibrant coulours and their tenacity. I even taught my not-quite-3-year old about them. Them and mosses, another one of my favourites.
Thanks for this beautiful post, I really enjoyed this.
I am so pleased to meet you, and thank you for sharing some time with me. I have followed you back to your site and left a message with your post about what you miss about German Christmas. Ich glaube, wir haven viele gemeinsame Interessen!
I love these photos. Thank you for drawing attention to this overlooked yet beautiful part of nature.
They deserve it and I’m already planning a lot more work in this area–not only more from my archives, but new ones this coming spring & summer. BTW, my camerafriend & main lens are the same as yours. I love them too!
I passed by a photo of some lime green lichen the other day. Silly me. Your pictures are lovely.
Nice to meet you, Erin, and happy to help to awaken some new interest on what we pass by.
A case could be made for the beauty of teamwork as lichen are a symbiotic relationship of fungus and usually algae. go team!
So many relationships depend upon teamwork not only to work efficiently, but to work at all. Nice to meet another who teams up with cats, too!
I loved your photos – it reminds me of being back in the Midwest. You see lichens like that all around the Great Lake states. Very awesome set of photos. I loved the white crocus too and the cat yawning – every single whisker showed in that one!
Nancy
Thanks, Nancy, for your visit and for the compliments. My animals, too, are among my very favorite subjects.
Great series of images, I visit that area often, one of my favourite places. A surreal landscape with a fascinating history!
Hello, Tim, I’m very pleased to meet you. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Tasmania on at least three occasions, and fell in love with it during my first. I’ve just had my first look at your beautiful site and am looking forward to a much deeper look in the very near future. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post!
I love lichens and fungi, when I take photos of them I can just imagine myself shrunk down and wandering through an alien landscape. These are great pictures, well done!
Thanks, Metan! I am planning to go really small this spring and summer and try to do just that. Loved you link to the Wagga webs!
Thanks :) I will be looking forward to seeing more of your photos. Those webs were great weren’t they? I wish I’d been able to see them myself!
Me too! Makes me grateful that I didn’t come into this round of life as an insect!
Beautiful work.
There are a lot of interesting lichen that grow in my part of the world too, i’m kind of contemplating a copy-cat post with similar images from here. I’m truly inspired, TFS.
I’d love to see some of the lichens you come across in your amazing travels. You have some spectacular photographs on your site. Thanks very much for your visit and your comment!
great photos! it shows how small insignificant things like these can be captured so beautifully…amazing work..kudos!
congrats on being freshly pressed!
Thanks, Ria, I’m happy to think that they–and everything else in nature’s chain–are not insignificant, and that we can appreciate them for their place in it, and to help others to, as well. And thanks, too, for joining me!
your insight into these things inspires me..keep up the good work!
and ur most welcome :)
Your photographs present such a strong, prevalent sense of Nature, and Earth in the best, pure form-raw. I can feel just how natural your photographs are-I can imagine trekking through the various places that you have snapped pictures of. Great work.
Thank you, Monica. There are so many places I’d like to explore more!
Love this post. I’m a big lichen fan but I wonder how many people are? It’s the sort of thing we walk past every day without noticing. There’s a rock on our property that has a brilliant lime green lichen on gray stone — the color combination is so gorgeous.
Well, get out there with your camera and let us know what you’re seeing that you like so much–hope to see it soon!
What beautiful photographs! The colours and textures of the lichens are just fabulous.
Thank you, Rachel. I have fond memories of Manchester and some friends that I made there many years ago!
Liken these images! lol
We share, SheBear!
Nice blog! Your lichen shots are wonderful. The colors are different from the ones I take here in Maine, USA. but very beautiful.
It’s really amazing how many different forms and colors lichens can take. It seems that they are practically limitless, and I’m happy to find that they have been the center of study by some very determined scientists who are happy to share their knowledge with the rest of us. Thanks for joining me!
“and I would have loved to spend at least a couple of hours happily exploring the wonders, large and small, that were there for the patient observer to discover…” I know exactly what you mean. I feel this everywhere. What a wonderful post, thank you so much for sharing. I love how intricate all of them are.
Thank you, Claireanne, and you’re welcome. I have already formulated a plan to explore their intricacies in greater detail this year. I have a new achromatic lens that I’m very eager to apply to the endeavor. I’m very excited about the project!
Wow an achromatic lens… i’ve actually NEVER heard of that, and it sounds intense! lol. (I just looked it up) I can’t wait to see the finished product, i’m sure those photos will turn out great. Detail detail detail. My favorite part about the gigantic world we live in. :) Thanks Krikitarts!
If you’re really interested, I found a real deal online. If you look hard, you can find them.