A Gap In The Clouds

Today was the best of three by far: still much low cloud cover and a little dampness at times but there was no wind and it was pretty warm for the shortest day of the year.

As always there was a magic moment and this was it. Taken from Kentmere Pike towards Morcambe Bay. (Stop here to avoid geekiness)

In extras, Cladonia floerkeana aka British Soldiers or Bengal Match Lichen, with its granular unbranched podetia and bright red apothecia (fruiting bodies).

This is also commonly referred to in the UK, perhaps mistakenly, as Devil’s Matchsticks (a catch-all name for several varieties of Cladonia) but in the US at least Devils Matchsticks have black apothecia and are named as Pilophorus aciculaires

Philosophy Friday (MP Special)
It’s so simple to be wise... just think of something stupid to say and then don’t say it :-)