Brad Von Blon
@bobcatbrad.bsky.social
I like to go outside. Tend to look at bryophytes & lichens in northern Michigan.
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Was looking at some stuff about Sphagnum expert Kjell Ivar Flatberg and saw something extraordinary. The patterns on his hat looked…familiar, they’re Sphagnum leaf cells!
November 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Was looking at some stuff about Sphagnum expert Kjell Ivar Flatberg and saw something extraordinary. The patterns on his hat looked…familiar, they’re Sphagnum leaf cells!
Fuscocephaloziopsis that I found after dropping my phone in the bog. Phones seem to really like finding wet hollows on the bog mat, mine is a magnet for Odontoschisma fluitans, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, and Fuscocephaloziopsis.
October 13, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Fuscocephaloziopsis that I found after dropping my phone in the bog. Phones seem to really like finding wet hollows on the bog mat, mine is a magnet for Odontoschisma fluitans, Blepharostoma trichophyllum, and Fuscocephaloziopsis.
A few of the prettier photos I took during the trip
September 4, 2025 at 11:48 AM
A few of the prettier photos I took during the trip
I took a trip last week to attend a Sphagnum workshop hosted by the Botanical Club of Wisconsin. It was fantastic to learn from Dr. Jon Shaw and we had tons of fun! Our group saw 16 of the 27 species known to occur in the state, not too shabby!
September 4, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I took a trip last week to attend a Sphagnum workshop hosted by the Botanical Club of Wisconsin. It was fantastic to learn from Dr. Jon Shaw and we had tons of fun! Our group saw 16 of the 27 species known to occur in the state, not too shabby!
Malaxis unifolia from a great big gigantic conifer swamp that I seem to get lost in every time
July 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Malaxis unifolia from a great big gigantic conifer swamp that I seem to get lost in every time
I made a hen Spruce Grouse very upset today and she tried to fight me, I got away with my life but not my dignity
July 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I made a hen Spruce Grouse very upset today and she tried to fight me, I got away with my life but not my dignity
A quiet, serene video of a raccoon drinking from a local lake and nothing wild happens
July 3, 2025 at 1:26 AM
A quiet, serene video of a raccoon drinking from a local lake and nothing wild happens
Someone in public recognized me today from my iNat profile and it reminded me of an old tweet of mine. I never realized that posting plant pictures could gain someone a bit of local notoriety?
July 3, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Someone in public recognized me today from my iNat profile and it reminded me of an old tweet of mine. I never realized that posting plant pictures could gain someone a bit of local notoriety?
Soil Ruby Lichen (Heppia adglutinata), new to Michigan! Some folks I know have found it in Ontario, CA and some nearby Midwest states but somehow I couldn’t find any documentation of it in the Mitten. Figured I may as well look on the high quality alvars of Drummond Island and there it was! Welcome!
June 16, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Soil Ruby Lichen (Heppia adglutinata), new to Michigan! Some folks I know have found it in Ontario, CA and some nearby Midwest states but somehow I couldn’t find any documentation of it in the Mitten. Figured I may as well look on the high quality alvars of Drummond Island and there it was! Welcome!
It’ been documented in the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula near where I live, but no records since 1980. I’ve spent tons of time in all the old sites and come up with nothing. My recent sighting is from the Upper Peninsula, I’m starting to think it’s extirpated from the lower.
June 16, 2025 at 12:18 AM
It’ been documented in the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula near where I live, but no records since 1980. I’ve spent tons of time in all the old sites and come up with nothing. My recent sighting is from the Upper Peninsula, I’m starting to think it’s extirpated from the lower.
After 3 years of searching on and off for Menegazzia terebrata in Michigan, I finally found some!! Well worth the wait and the 8 mile trek through one of the thicker conifer swamps I’ve ever been in!
June 16, 2025 at 12:13 AM
After 3 years of searching on and off for Menegazzia terebrata in Michigan, I finally found some!! Well worth the wait and the 8 mile trek through one of the thicker conifer swamps I’ve ever been in!
It’s about that time, ain’t it
May 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
It’s about that time, ain’t it
It’s been a good spring for lichens so far. This Heterodermia (maybe H. specioca?) is not uncommon around my area but always seems to pop up unexpectedly.
April 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM
It’s been a good spring for lichens so far. This Heterodermia (maybe H. specioca?) is not uncommon around my area but always seems to pop up unexpectedly.
Who’s gonna help me find the (likely extinct) Petoskey Pondsnail this summer? F. Bryant Walker collected 13 snail shells in 1908, wrote a vague label, found them to be a new species, and I don’t know if anyone ever really followed up much.
February 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Who’s gonna help me find the (likely extinct) Petoskey Pondsnail this summer? F. Bryant Walker collected 13 snail shells in 1908, wrote a vague label, found them to be a new species, and I don’t know if anyone ever really followed up much.
Who’s got two thumbs and a sick ass shirt?
February 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Who’s got two thumbs and a sick ass shirt?
Pin lichen from the inner wood of a dead Ash in a swamp. I figure this is likely Mycocalicium subtile but haven’t checked the key because I’m a lazy bum.
February 5, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Pin lichen from the inner wood of a dead Ash in a swamp. I figure this is likely Mycocalicium subtile but haven’t checked the key because I’m a lazy bum.
There’s a pin lichen that’s been bothering me for a while, shows up on old growth Red Pine. Easy to spot because the white thallus appears on the margins of the bark plates, making them look wreathed in white. Probably just Mycocalicium subtile but that’d be boring.
February 5, 2025 at 11:44 PM
There’s a pin lichen that’s been bothering me for a while, shows up on old growth Red Pine. Easy to spot because the white thallus appears on the margins of the bark plates, making them look wreathed in white. Probably just Mycocalicium subtile but that’d be boring.
Went to the local marina and got to watch an otter fishing for an hour or so
January 19, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Went to the local marina and got to watch an otter fishing for an hour or so
Finally got out to see some lichen today. I’m often wrong about this specific group but some features point towards Pertusaria rubefacta, that’d be a new one for me!
January 15, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Finally got out to see some lichen today. I’m often wrong about this specific group but some features point towards Pertusaria rubefacta, that’d be a new one for me!
Figured out an easy hack for IDing mosses for other people. Works every time 😎
January 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Figured out an easy hack for IDing mosses for other people. Works every time 😎
Best find of 2024 was way back in June. Some friends and I likely found the first Michigan record of Syntrichia cainii on the beautiful alvars of Drummond Island! Felt great to add a new addition to the flora!
January 1, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Best find of 2024 was way back in June. Some friends and I likely found the first Michigan record of Syntrichia cainii on the beautiful alvars of Drummond Island! Felt great to add a new addition to the flora!
I got a cool book in the mail!
December 28, 2024 at 11:55 PM
I got a cool book in the mail!
This is where those illustrations came from if you wanna see more
December 26, 2024 at 10:57 PM
This is where those illustrations came from if you wanna see more