Life forms emerge quietly and slowly. Many hikers might walk by this natural beauty but not me. I love to look for the subtle ways nature impacts an area. I often find that biology and geology collide to make a masterpiece in nature. This quiet and simple setting gives rise to a variety of living organisms not only forming a growing community but also transforming the geological feature that supports them. A close examination of the rock shows some exfoliations of the exposed surfaces and microscopic blemishes that allow life to take hold. It is amazing that there are enough nutrients to support all the living things that can live on a rock. Traveling around the country give me ample opportunities to view nature at its best...which in my book is simple, efficient, productive, and beautiful. The transformation of the this rock surface into a forest of mosses, lichens, and a variety pioneer plants amazing!