While exploring Manning Park, I came across this little branch on a subalpine fir, dancing merrily in the wind, with its lichens swaying to and fro. There are a few different species of lichens on there, but the majority are collectively known as Old Man's Beard. I took a variety of images to make this composite drawing entitled Happy Dance.

I'm drawn to small things in our ecosystems, knowing that even small organisms have important roles. In the case of these lichens, they are the primary food source for deer and caribou in the winter when deep snow covers the ground.