Lichen Embroidery

Originally, I had printed some gelli prints onto fabric, based on pebbles that were stuck in grykes. While I really liked some of them, they weren't finished pieces of work really, so they just ended up in another pile of stuff! So I decided to cut some of them up and patchwork them together and then start sewing and see what happened - there was no plan, no envisaged end point just a process. I kept working at it, determined to make something out of nothing and here it is: 

Yes there are things I would change, but I have no intention of doing another similar one! Some elements though will be includied in forthcoming work. It will be framed, with a simple wooden dark grey frame...I'll add a photo to the blog, if I remember when it gets framed. In the meantime ..some details. The lichens aren't species specific just a general impression....

..and a photo of before the piece progressed too far ...showing more of the gelli prints...

Pine Forest Lichens

Unfortunately I have never really tackled lichen identification - at all, but it doesn't stop me enjoying and marvelling at them; some photos from our walk at Loch Garten.

Raven Crag

We  were too late to get a carparking spot to go up Clough Head, so it was Plan B: Raven Crag. With snow on the tops it was a shame we hadn't planned anything bigger, but a nice walk nonetheless. We went straight up the eroding path (direct route) and then up the steps to the top - returning via the meandering timber road. The closed road across the dam was fringed with some super mosses, lichens and ferns.

Thirlmere.

Dunmail Raise in the distance.

Towards Blencathra from the summit.

'Cathra's winter coat.

A very 'Lakeland view' - with Skiddaw in the background.

Looking across to Castle Rock.

A friendly Robin.

..and some of the lower plants of the dam wall....

Peltigera membranacea - there were substantial areas of this spectacular lichen.

Rhizocarpon geographicum lichen blotches,  Common Polypody and lichen sp (on Pine).

Maidenhair Spleenwort, lichen sp, Hart's-tongue fern and Wall-rue.

A special postbox!

Well, while we were there we had to visit this splendid postbox - well the wall around it actually. The wall an extensive patch of Rocella phycopsis, not a common lichen and lovely to see. The post box itself is out of use as bees nest in it! 

Bridgend Woods

We haven't been to Islay quite this early in May, so it was lovely to see a haze of Bluebell-blue on many of our walks. When we have visited Bridgend Woods previously it has been for Snowdrops - this time though it was Bluebells.....and lichens (sadly on felled wood). 

Lichen patterns

There were lots of lovely lichens on our walk round Ardnave Point ....I'm not going to attempt to identify any of them - just enjoy them for their beauty.

The Golden-hair Lichen

Teloschistes Flavicans, or the Golden-hair Lichen, is extremely rare. With it's stongholds being the Scilly Isles and far west Cornwall it was a delight to see so much of this iconic species.