Gathering Moss

I guess I'm not a rolling stone

In pursuit of peak terrarium (and to balance out news consumption) I went out to gather moss last week. The temperatures had warmed and the snow was receding at the edges, so we could actually see the moss in some places. I had been learning about moss propagation, so I could gather small quantities of moss and grow much more for terrarium use. It seemed a good way to gather locally but not overly tax the ecosystem. Its a tiny and fascinating world down there, on the forest floor.

A fringe of moss on an old brick pillar. This my be a Hypnum moss, but my ID is not totally confident.

Getting closer to the moss, you can see its scales.

My mosses are now looking happy on a bed of spagnum moss in a bakery container from muffins we bought last week (a large plastic clamshell style) sitting in a bright room, but under a side table so it won’t get any direct sunlight. I am sure my husband appreciates all my side projects.

Once my mosses grow in, I am hoping to make a moss rock with a fern growing off it. Which may be wishful thinking because I have killed every fern I have tried to raise. But its been two years since the last fern died, so I am optimistic again.