Or so said Frasier Crane on an episode of "Fraiser." Turns out, he's not the only one and a quick web search will yeild quite a few others saying this. Truth is, Rhododendron macrophyllum is Washington's state flower but it only blooms once a year while the mildew and it's cousins moss and lichens stay interesting year round. While I'm not a huge fan of mildew, I do quite enjoy moss and lichens.
I don't know the name of this beautiful moss but I sure enjoy seeing it covering branches!
On those gray winter days, this bright color glows against the brooding evergreens.
There is a grove of our native oak, quercus garryana, beside a road that I used to travel on my daily commute. This area was once an oak prarie. I always admired this lovely stand of trees in the winter but never photographed it.
A recent drive took me back to this area and fortunately, I had my camera and a little time.
My pictures don't do justice to the glow of the moss. I'll definitely go back on a day when the sky is blue to see if that helps.
Unfortunately, much of this grove will be cut down to make way for a new highway. The highway will be a good thing but I'll miss these beautiful old moss-covered oaks which seem to bloom all winter long. There is a similar stand of these close to Interstate 5 in the southern part of the state. If you've ever traveled from Washington to Oregon on I 5, you've probably seen them.
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
"Trees" by Joyce Kilmer (1886 - 1910)
I feel fortunate to have beheld and enjoyed this grove.
