Lichen Garden Magic

- Spot It? Not Many Have. And That’s What Keeps Its Center-Right Mystery Alive

Hey wonderful folks! While exploring the depths below the rim, I stumbled upon this incredible rock. It’s tucked away in an unassuming and completely unexpected spot, carried and hidden by an ancient landslide. The exposed part of this rock measures about 2’ by 3’ by 6'.

boulder vugs - Hidden Gem

The rock boasts various hues and shades of banded agate, chalcedony, and opal, intertwining with druzy, botryoidal vugs, and fillings. All of this encases a dendritic, sky-blue common opal core. Oh my goodness! And the best part? All these minerals light up like a dream under UV light. I’ve never encountered such a rock in the wild.

boulder vugs - Vuggy! A Mineral Wonder. But There’s More To It

But wait, there’s more than just glowing minerals. This boulder is adorned with gorgeous, thriving lichens. And guess what? They glow too. Judging by their size, most are about 300 to 700 years old. The oldest have been around for 1800 to 2100 years!

blue opal with lichen - Omg! Just Look At Those Lichens. And, Oh Yeah, The Blue Opal

This boulder is way too massive to move or collect. It would be a shame to smash this living treasure with a sledgehammer. Its size and hidden location have spared it from such a fate.

Its true value lies in simply existing—far beyond being a collector’s trinket or something to sell. I hope a few others who’ve passed this way felt the same, leaving it untouched for someone like me. I’ll leave it undisturbed, hoping others will do the same.

This encounter has sparked an old idea: I’m going to start a fluorescent lichen garden. I’ll collect them in a way that doesn’t harm them. There’s not much time left in this season, but there’s enough to get started.

My Lichen Garden Journey

So here it is: three top-notch fluorescent mineral specimens with lichen and a stellar fluorescent lichen specimen. They’re sizable, measuring about 9" by 6" by 4". They receive filtered light, a daily misting, and the tray is rotated a couple of times per week.

rock specimens with lichen - My Lichen Sanctuary

Lichen Four Rock Garden Glow

rock and lichen fluorescing - Rock And Lichens Bathed In Natural, Long And Mid-Wave Ultraviolet Light

rock and lichen fluorescing - Rock And Lichens Bathed In Natural, Long Wave, Mid-Wave, Short-Wave, Full Wave Ultraviolet Light

rock specimens with lichen - Lichen Specimen Illuminated In Natural And Mid-Wave Ultraviolet Light

Just like the minerals, the lichens glow with different colors and intensities under various wavelengths. I adore the subtle shift from aqua to lavender in a seemingly inconspicuous type! Some lichens that appear identical in natural light fluoresce differently or not at all.

As with all fluorescent images, these pictures don’t quite capture the nuances witnessed in person. The red and yellow glowing lichen in the last images are just as vibrant in real life, but alas, my camera and editing can’t fully do them justice.

That Ancient Orange Lichen

I stumbled upon this incredible orange lichen when it was a ripe old age of 2100 years. It completely caught me off guard! Can you believe it? I mean, talk about audacity—I just couldn’t resist plucking it from its cozy spot and bringing it home with me. It had been thriving there for centuries, maybe even longer than I’ve been alive!

Now, should I have left it be? Well, maybe. But there was something about its precarious perch, nestled snugly between two big rocks on a steep, rapidly eroding slope, that drew me in. One of the rocks had cracked, splitting the lichen ages ago, and sadly, the other piece had vanished into the eroded scree long before I came along. Did I save it from a similar fate?

Moving it, I realized that without my careful attention, this ancient creature could be in real danger. Imagine—a 2100-year-old life form, just tossed aside and snuffed out! So, I’ve made it my mission to ensure that whoever comes after me will appreciate and take care of this living treasure. And if they don’t, well, I’ll leave behind some detailed instructions for my kids on how and where to relocate it, so it can keep on thriving long after I’m gone.

A Little Background Tale

rock specimens with lichen - Those Rock Mulched Plants Grow Along A Two-Tiered Rock Wall. They’re Growing In A Lifetime Of Fluorescent Gathering

In my old life, I crafted this fluorescent rock garden. Some of those rocks happened to host glowing lichens also. Sadly, I left all that behind when the house was sold in my divorce.

I thought my rock and lichen garden days were over. Turns out, I’ve stumbled upon a whole new, wildly enchanting area filled with fluorescent rocks and lichens. What a rich and immersive experience awaits me there.

And my new fluorescent rock and lichen garden is more up close and personal than the old one. In joy, I care for and learn more about glowing lichens every day!

One Year Later: Lichen Update

rock specimens with lichen - My Lichens Have A New, Much Better Home

Here, they aren’t dependent on my daily care. They can get their nutrients from dust and won’t be damaged by my clumsiness. ✨

Cheers,
D 🪨🔥