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“People always tell me not to be extreme. ‘Be reasonable’, they say. But I never felt it did any good to be reasonable about anything in conservation, because what you give away will never come back. Ever. When it comes to saving wilderness, we can’t be extreme enough. To compromise is to lose.”
Martin Litton

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Goblet waxcap triplets (Hygrocybe cantharellus). These are saprobic on the dead roots of nearby plants. Recent research has suggested that there is also some kind of mutual relationship between waxcaps and mosses. 🍄 📷: @judsongates 🍄 #fungi #moss #forest #mushrooms #gobletwaxcaps #hardwoodforest #eastcoast #nature #naturephotography

A lil patch of Cladonia sp. (pixie cup lichen) on a winter morning. 🌱 #lichen #lichens #pixiecuplichen #pixiecup #cladonia #nature #moss #westvirginia #naturephotography #winter #appalachia #photography #naturelovers #lichenology #ecology #science

"As I see it we need the immense variety of the sources of joy opened through increased sensitivity toward the richness and diversity of life, through the profound cherishing of free natural landscapes. ... Part of the joy stems from the consciousness of our intimate relation to something bigger than our own ego, something which has endured for millions of years. The requisite care flows naturally if the self is widened and deepened so that protection of free nature is felt and conceived of as protection of our very selves." —Arne Næss 🌱 📷: @judsongates 🌱 #wildandwonderful #westvirginia #virginia #appalachia #arnenæss #arnenaess #deepecology #ecology #environment #nature #self #science #naturalworld #landscape #forest

This delicate lil flower is Lobelia inflata. Common names include "Indian tobacco" and "puke weed" (lovely). I find it curious how common names of plants come about. They can be so revealing. In this instance, someone clearly must've had a vomitive experience with this plant. And European colonialists/settlers must have observed Native Americans chewing it for potential tobacco-like properties. I did some research and found that at least three Native American tribes used this plant: the Iroquois used the roots to treat venereal diseases, ulcers, and leg sores, the Cherokee used the roots as a poultice for body aches, and the Crow used it in religious ceremonies. Lobelia inflata is still used medicinally today but adverse side effects limit its use, including possible death if taken in large doses. It contains the compound lobeline, a pyridine alkaloid, which has a narrow therapeutic index—meaning the potentially beneficial dose is very close to the toxic dose. All this behind a delicate wildflower!

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