On my local walk 29 March when I took many photos, I caught the colours and textures of this weathered fire hydrant marker-post on the shaded side of a road at the outer edge of town. It’s a concrete post painted yellow but nature’s been very busy adding lots of extra interest! Nearby I found a fallen autumn leaf that surprised me with its variety of lovely colours. Tapanui, West Otago, New Zealand.
Click on any photo to enlarge.


Fire Hydrant context photo.

Possibly the most beautiful fallen autumn leaf I’ve ever seen. A work of art!

Later Update: closer crop to show more detail from the Fire Hydrant.

Text and photos by Liz; Exploring Colour (2021)
I love anything like this, and when I see something similar it always stops me in my tracks and I have to have a closer look. It’s almost like nature is mimicking the painter, instead of the other way round π Great post, Liz!
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Glad you enjoyed the fire hydrant marker and the amazing special touches added by nature! It’s out on the edge of town so I doubt anyone will ever clean it off (thank goodness).
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Wonderful lichenscape, Liz. Let’s hope those in charge don’t decide to repaint the hydrant. An example of what nature will do should we make ourselves disappear someday.
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Lichenscape is such a good word .. love it! Thank you Steve, glad you like this. I’d say the hydrant is pretty safe, it’s unlikely to have any priority on the public works agenda π
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Great post, Liz! The last photo of the fungi on the paint is crazy cool! Each day, I try to feel like I am aging gracefully! π
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Glad you enjoyed the post Donna! Pretty sure the stuff on the marker is lichen, even though the little cup-like things do look like fungi π
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π I’m awful with plant ID, it is so dainty and pretty! π
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Amazingly dainty and pretty, hosted on an ordinary old marker post! Who’d have thought? π
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A little world all its own. I love the colors and textures from the hydrant, Liz. Your enlargement makes it look almost like seaweed! And so interesting that the colors of the leaf match the lichen collection. Very nice!
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Although I didn’t think of it, I totally get your thoughts on the lichen looking like seaweed. There is a real similarity! Thanks Ellen!
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Great photos
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Glad you enjoyed these Sheree!
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π
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I love the different ways that you presented the texture and color of the fire hydrant marker, Liz. Each image has a different feel, dictated in part by the degree to which you zoomed in.
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Thank you Mike! I was surprised how one fire hydrant marker could so capture my attention π
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Great colour and texture – and the last image looks like it could be a piece of textile art. Nature is fascinating! π
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Amazing what can be found just on a short walk around town! Textile art .. yes, it could be. I like that! π
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Definitely a Shangri La for fungus!
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I’ve added another image at the bottom of the post – a closer crop that shows more detail. I think it’s lichens even though the ‘cup’ things look similar to fungus (is that what you’re referring to?). Fascinating microcosm of living things and btw I love your Shangri La description!!!
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