Lichen Covered Bench

 Lichen are organisms that are a symbiotic combination of fungi, algae and yeasts.  We find them growing on stones, bricks, even other plants. This bench, nestled under a grove of trees, has been taken over by lichen. They look to me like flowers of peeling paint. But other lichens can form branches, threads or leaflike structures in a rainbow of colors. They can appear to be an entirely different color when wet as opposed to when they are dry. If you pass lichen on your regular walking route, be sure to stop and look at these mysterious organisms on both a dry day and a drizzly or rainy one.