Lichens: Nature's little beauties

A combination of a fungus and an alga, lichens have a symbiotic relationship of both elements that create their unique look and structure. Even more exciting (admit it, this is exciting stuff!) is that lichens appear in colors ranging from brilliant, flaming hot reds, oranges and yellows, to more conservative grays, browns and sea-foam greens. Texturally lichens can be mossy, crusty, leafy, shrubby, or even jellylike.

We've all seen lichens on rocks in our back yards, roofs, woodland rocks, coastal rocks, wooden fences and even on trees, but have probably rarely taken a very, very close look at them. I think all lichens are beautiful works of art, so of course I just had to have this whopping 828 page reference book—Lichens of North America—that shows them up close. Lichens really are nature's little beauties!