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Mysteries of Nature: Can You Explain This?

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Sometimes we see things in nature that raise questions.

As I was out on my nature walki with my camera today, I came across an unusual sight. I was walking Jack Creek Road in Templeton, California. As you enter the road from Highway 46 West, you cross a bridge over Jack Creek, and the road follows the creek, which is lined with oak trees of all sizes and ages. Across the road from the forested creek banks are the field and pastures of local farmers and homeowners. And the fence I'm going to show you belongs to one of them.

Image is a public domain image from pixabay.com

Here's the Nature Mystery !

Can you help me think of a title for it?

A little later on I'll ask you to help me figure out how this fence acquired its moss trimming. But first, help me name this picture. I'm sure you can be more creative than I have been so far. Just add your suggestion below. Or, if you can't come up with your own caption, please vote for someone else's. Let's see if we can think of a good name for this.

Spanish Moss on Barbed Wire Fence

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Nature's Clothesline

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Just hangin' around

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Tangled web

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MOSS DE-FENCES

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Barbed Wire Needs A Hair Cut!

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Barbed Wire Abhors a Vacuum

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Ghosts of Scarecrows Past

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Ghosts of Scarecrows Past

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Barb wire in disguise

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Grab this list

Clues to this Mystery of Nature

This may help with the duel module below.

These dogs were guarding the property the barbed wire fence belongs to.

These dogs were guarding the property the barbed wire fence belongs to.

These dogs were guarding the property the barbed wire fence belongs to.
This is what was growing on the street side of the fence on a small slope next to it.
These trees were nearby.
These trees were also nearby and across the road.
These trees were in the same area.

How did the moss get on the fence?

My husband came up with a couple of ideas that I thought were highly improbable. I think I may actually have the solution. These pictures were taken February 13, 2010, in Templeton, California. That is in the north end of of San Luis Obispo County. That may actually be a clue if you do a bit of research outside this lens.

How did the moss get on the fence? Do you suppose it actually grew there?

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It was done by a human, and here's why.

Ladymermaid says:

I have heard that a rolling stone gathers no moss so maybe Mick Jagger passed by and leaned against the fence....

sandyspider says:

I think magical leprechauns put it there.

OhMe says:

I haven't got a clue but it is very interesting. Maybe the dogs put it there.

It was a natural process and here's how it happened.

jules says:

It looks like the type of moss that grows on trees/branches here in Alaska. If the wind blew hard it could tear it off and end up flying around and then get caught on the fence.

Beth P. says:

This moss, known as barbed wire moss, has evolved from eons of time waiting to be recognized by scientist with the coming of the barbed wire fence.

NaturalMommys says:

My guess is a storm with high winds blew it and it got caught there. Do you think you will reveal the answer??

Alfiesgirl says:

SLO apparently is 28% water and close to the pacific and the mountains which, mixed with its weather gives the place a meditteranean climate..humid conditions would be ideal for moss to grow, i think maybe the moss has blown there from the Santa Lucia mountains which are close by??

Bert says:

The moss blew in from the nearby trees and stuck to the barbed wire.

 
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There's a big clue in this lens.

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Thank you for coming by. If you didn't have an answer to my mystery, it's OK. Please say hi anyhow.

  • JaguarJulie Sep 11, 2010 @ 7:25 am | delete
    I sure do marvel, every day, at all the mysteries of nature and of men!
  • G'Jim c):{- Feb 21, 2010 @ 6:58 pm | delete
    Does remind me, though, of that recent scientific announcement of the new bird species found in Panama. This species, rather reclusive, was found living (and nesting) in the moss that grows on the sides of the canal locks. Scientists have named them 'Lock Moss Nesters'.
  • G'Jim c):{- Feb 21, 2010 @ 6:57 pm | delete
    Bein' from Wyomin', it ain't at all difficult in recognizin' this phenomenon -- except, here, it's tumbleweeds that get stuck in the fences!
  • BarbRad Feb 21, 2010 @ 3:49 am | delete
    If I gave my opinion (lol, I wasn't there to see it happen), people would stop being creative. I think some folks who commented came to the same conclusion I did, using all the clues I gave.
  • NaturalMommys Feb 21, 2010 @ 2:46 am | delete
    Cute lens! Got us all thinking and inspired me! Sooo what the answer ;)
  • sandyspider Feb 16, 2010 @ 10:21 am | delete
    Very interesting
  • OhMe Feb 15, 2010 @ 6:57 pm | delete
    How very interesting and what great captions and comments.
  • strayspay Feb 15, 2010 @ 5:50 pm | delete
    Great lens that won't let us do a quick scan. It's thought provoking. Five stars.
  • BarbRad Feb 15, 2010 @ 2:19 am | delete
    It's fun to see all the great caption suggestions and explanations. I agree with one of you and didn't even have to offer my additional clue. I will mention that there is a clue in another lens and I will post a link to it.
  • Alfiesgirl Feb 14, 2010 @ 4:54 pm | delete
    Hi, i thoroughly enjoyed this lens and learning about St Louis Obispo..a place which untill this evening i had never heard of but which i now know quite a lot about lol..yep i researched for the moss question, i may not be correct with my answer as to how it got there but i still enjoyed searching for the most correct answer i could find.
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More about Templeton and the North County

Templeton is so close to Paso Robles you can walk from one to the other without noticing. The scenery is is similar in any part of the wine county, and both areas are full of vineyards and wineries. you will find green pastures and oak trees in both. And best of all, you will find wonderful people in both places.
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More about BarbRad

She has lived in Templeton, California for over 15 years, and has decided she is very lucky to live there.
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BarbRad

In my life I've been student, public library clerk, English teacher in public school, elementary teacher in private schools,card buyer for Logos Bookstore... more »

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