O’Neill Regional Park 5

Posted on May 29, 2003 in Biomes Photos Writing

I recently saw a guide to lichens. Every time I think I know the world in its subtleties, I find that there is some simple thing which isn’t so simple. Melville says “….in this world it is not so easy to settle these plain things. I have ever found your plain things the knottiest of all.” And so they are.

Nannette and I got into talking about just how important it is to know the names of the plants and the animals that appear in your story. As usual, we were both right. Nannette seemed to speak for being more sparing and I spoke for being more detailed. When we talked more, it came out that we both believed in accuracy and we both believed in providing enough detail to make the story or the poem come alive to the reader.

Janet Fitch has a scene in her White Oleander where one of the boys that Astrid finds herself living with in her first foster home points to the plants and calls them by name. I love the touch and at the same time I mourn because at that age I so wanted to know the names of the plants.

Now I am curious about the names of the lichens.

Click on the image to view today’s gallery featuring nude rocks and bare branches.