The Bone Collector

I have to admit, I like bones. I like wandering the deer trails in the spring to find sheds. It is a handy excuse to just get out and enjoy the hills and valleys before spring rushes in. 

Once it greens up most of the forest is nearly impassable with undergrowth. At one time these woods were pasture for beef cattle. The cattle kept the forest 'clean' and it was like wandering through a park. Now it is wild. Fifteen years after the cattle were sold, the place is has become the Wild Forest.

I decided Sunday morning to take a 'quick' trip down to the east end of the valley to see if I could find some Skunk Cabbage and perhaps find a Marsh Marigold. After 30 years of wandering this valley, I've got a fairly good idea of when these first flowers of spring appear.

I headed out to the point and then followed a deer trail that twisted down the hillside to the creek. I'd been out 'shed' hunting the day before and found only a small skull of a nubbin' buck.

Bonus! Right there! 

I picked it up and tied it to my back pack.

I was in a hurry to get to the Spring but paused when I saw a pattern on the north bank. Mosses and Lichen are my new interests, so I grabbed my cell phone and took these shots. I checked the landmarks so I could stop by on my way back and try a better photo.

I love the name of this moss. Common Liverwort. Um, or a Hornwort? Goodness, it is hard to tell!

Sort of makes me want to make up names for it. I want to call them Hogworts!

There is a little teeny tiny one I want to find called an Earwort. But I may need to start carrying a magnifying glass!

Even cooler? 

Snakeskin Liverwort.

Yes I looked up the proper name, but I thought this common name was more descriptive.

It grows next to the spring with other moss.

And I think it could be the same type of moss that I took the photos above with.

[If you click on the picture, you can see it larger]

Then this little beauty. Scarlet Elf Cup Fungi in moss...

And then I saw a glimmer of purple.

After a bit more looking around, I found them in various stages of growth.

                               

This all in the area of the Big Spring.

By the end of next week, the spring should have a few dozen flowers opening.

I decided to head back and take the deer trail around the north facing hillside where I'd found the antler and then cut across the meadow towards home.

My weekend haul was one nice set of antler sheds. I found 3 skulls. 

And what on earth do I do with these?

I clean them up.