“Perhaps you have seen colorful, bushy, leafy, or scaly lichens clinging to oak trees or covering rocks. Lichens are all around us, and they have fascinating stories to tell! These incredible organisms are diverse, highly adaptable, and play important roles in the ecosystem such as supporting wildlife. During this exploration at Pepperwood, you will learn to better understand what lichens are, where they grow, how they reproduce, and how to identify them. Expert lichenologist, Jesse Miller, will enlighten you with the biology, ecology, and identification of these weird and wonderful composite organisms. After this class you will be sure to notice lichens of all shapes and sizes almost everywhere you go!
We will begin with a classroom presentation reviewing the essentials, and then embark on a walk to discover our local lichens first-hand. Please bring your lunch, as we will break for lunch part way through the event.
We highly recommend that you watch our previously recorded class presentation, A Lens on Lichens – featuring Jesse Miller, before you join us. This video will give you helpful background information to support your learning in the field! Find it on our YouTube channel here. ”