As lichens are a primary indicator of favorable atmospheric conditions (clean air) I’m proud to say that the area surrounding my work-place has a breathable atmosphere, despite the faint whiffs of…haute coffee making their way out of a rather dark and forbidding (though immaculate) Starbucks. I’ve spent countless bits of camera memory recording various Chicago lichens, most of which seem to belong to two dominant varieties. I suspect that I’ll have to travel farther out of the city in order to see other sorts of lichens. I also have to say that the specimen photographed here was not found near my workplace. This photograph is from a piece of tree-bark, found in the alley not far from Corey’s apartment. How the lichen encrusted bark got there, I don’t know, since there were no trees within close enough proximity to warrant fallen bark. As the alley proved a bit too…um…canine (and glass) enhanced to adequately photograph lichen growth in situ (my Latin sucks, so I hope I used the right term!) I decided to pick up the piece of bark and transport it to the “white room” I’ve established on the desk in Corey’s room. My “white room” is little more than…well…paper…and I was stunned at the manner in which lichenized bark stood out. This lichen, now placed in a more favorable location, outdoors, was apparently a rather busy specimen, and I’m glad that it paused long enough in its immense amount of biological activity to allow this staged photo. I’d planned on posting this shot later, but impatience got the best of me, and so here it is…now. As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.