Life on a Rock
In my attempts to find suitable names for the specimens that I have captured in these photos, I Googled “moss.” I was rewarded with many pictures of green clumps of plant life…and other pictures of a skinny woman with dirty-blonde hair and an American football player. So…I have pretty pictures without names…. I hope you enjoy images of the various types of moss and other rock-dwelling plant forms that I found on the side of the granite mountain in Little Cottonwood Canyon, just south and east of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA…another beautiful piece of life in the Wasatch Mountains.
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Scott's Place...Images and Words 
Funny about your Google results! These are fantastic photos. I love the detail of the last one.
April 20, 2012 at 7:19 am
It was kind of funny, Sherene…and thank you for the nice words. I rather like that last one, too…as Eve said earlier, it looks kind of sweet. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:23 pm
life, well, rocks!
April 20, 2012 at 7:44 am
Indeed it does, Alessandro…thank you. 🙂
May 9, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Very nice.
As for names, I’ve learned you can make up names, and most people won’t know the difference. Worse that happens is someone will tell you what the actual name is . . . a win-win all around.
April 20, 2012 at 9:01 am
Thank you, Disperser…I saw that you did that with your naming of the lichen you encountered on your trip…and we do have plenty of readers who actually know those things, so it won’t be too long before they tell us the “real” names…win-win. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:02 pm
The most interesting visions of “moss” i have ever seen!! Nice work~ Makes me think of aliens from another planet or something…..? Ok – now you have to write a fantasy story about the Moss!!:)
April 20, 2012 at 9:18 am
Very interesting, Robyn…and…maybe…I don’t know about the fantasy story. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Awesome shots! The last one is kind of sweet for some reason. 😀
April 20, 2012 at 10:01 am
Thank you, Eve…and I do love that last one, too…and yes, “sweet” is a nice word for it. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:04 pm
These are great pictures Scott. I recognise one plant there that looks very much like a variety of Sedum. We have a whole class of plants here that are popular in garden centres called collectively ‘Alpines’ because, you guessed it, they are native to the Alps. These plants are very similar and I guess that would figure given these were photographed in the mountains. A different mountain range on a totally different continent but still mountains. Fascinating. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:02 am
Well I’m good with calling them Alpine moss, Chillbrook…I rather like that…they were in the mountains and continents away, but it’s so fitting. Thank you! 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:05 pm
So much going on beneath our feet! Wonderful close-ups, which are hard to do when they’re way down there!
April 20, 2012 at 10:09 am
There is so much going on beneath our feet, Lois…and I lucked-out with these, though, as I was able to lean across the rocks to get them. We were on the “side” of the mountain, so I didn’t have to lay down to get eye-level.
April 20, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Life always finds a way…most beautiful, sir 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 11:14 am
Indeed, it does, Nut Balls…thank you. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Moss (and lichens) are quite difficult to identify but I think some of your moss here looks a little like ‘Wall screw moss’ or ‘Tortula muralis’ as featured in my post ‘Moss and Lichens’: http://thelanternroom.wordpress.com/category/moss-and-lichens/page/6/. I’ll see if I can identify some of the other moss.
I also came across the tall, slim lady with blonde hair when searching for moss!
April 20, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Thank you, Meanderer…I think you’re right-on with the Tottula Muralis…looks just like your post…and Sarah’s explanation was wonderful, too, explaining the tips. I’m glad you found the same tall blonde lady that I did…was wondering if I did something wrong. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Up close and personal. Nice.
April 20, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Very much so, Gunta…thank you.
April 20, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I like the subject. It is interesting what grows on rocks. I really like the perspectives you have used to photograph them as well.
April 20, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Thank you, Leanne…I love that up-close perspective, too. 🙂
April 20, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Oh, to be a micro me–say an inch tall or so–and to be able to explore wonders such as these in their intimate details! I have plans to do some serious macro work with mosses and lichens this summer, and miniscapes such as these are just what I’ll be looking for.
April 20, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Wouldn’t it be crazy to be that small and be able to explore these wonders? I will look forward to your moss and lichen series…should be interesting.
April 20, 2012 at 10:19 pm
the beauty of nature!
April 21, 2012 at 6:04 am
Indeed, Dreams and Zeros…Thank you.
April 21, 2012 at 6:38 am
Wow I love these! Will be following with interest!
April 21, 2012 at 10:05 am
Thank you, Rosalyn. 🙂
April 21, 2012 at 7:39 pm
These photos are fantastic. I can’t believe how many different species of plants are growing here together. Your photos are so well composed that you make them seem like a landscape of “normal” size! I’m figuring out how wide your aperture was on each one. That’s what frustrates me with my macro lens. I don’t get the areas I want in focus. I really like these!
April 21, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Thank you for your nice words, George…I was trying to get as close and down at their level as I could…leaning against the rock…trying to get these. I was very pleased with how they turned-out. Thank you, again. 🙂
April 21, 2012 at 7:29 pm
I used to study moss (and lichens etc), but that was in another century so it is all gone now. But I still love them. Beautiful photos, Seekraz!
April 22, 2012 at 3:47 pm
I never did study them, Bente…but I have loved them and been fascinated by them since I was a child…and that was in another century, too! Thank you for your nice words. 🙂
April 22, 2012 at 4:44 pm
These are just so beautiful!
April 23, 2012 at 4:46 am
I couldn’t resist them, Madhu…thank you. 🙂
April 23, 2012 at 6:43 am
Excellent images Scott. It’s amazing what you can find when you get up close, I guess those organisms are all extracting their moisture from the air.
April 25, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Thank you, Finn…I love the close shots…and yes, these would be getting their moisture from the air…and there is a waterfall nearby, so that probably helps. I’m not sure how they survive the summer, though…may have to go back and check it out. 🙂
April 25, 2012 at 2:51 pm