This rocky microcosm is one of the most amazing natural sights I have ever seen showing just how hard nature perseveres to exist. Growing on this lump of granite in the edges of Loch Mallachie, in a wafer thin scattering of compost were a fir and a birch tree. Given the lack of ready nutrients, the competition with each other and the harsh climate these trees are at least 3-5 years old.
How can nature exist on so little? How can we need one or more houses, one or more cars, one or more TV’s, a myriad of gadgets, wardrobes full of clothes, a huge pile of food each day?
This rock really is a miracle of life.
Nikon D2X with 12-24mm lens @ 12mm, 1.8s at f/16, ISO 100, 0.9ND soft grad over sky and ice, 0.6ND hard grad over sky
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