Out here in the Pacific Northwest our orchards come alive during the rainy season as the moss and lichens wake up from their slumber and start another season of growth. Watching this unfold this year I started looking into the relationships of mosses and lichens with the trees and became interested in the idea that there might be a mutualistic relationship going on that we cannot see. What I planned for this year was to start answering questions as to why these little creatures form up in the branches of our fruit trees. I have found numerous trees that have not been touched for at least twenty years that the owner is allowing me to photograph over the year as I observe them. What I hope to learn from this little project is: 1. Like some research indicates, do mosses or lichens exude a substance that inhibits fungal growth to cut down on competition? 2. What effects if any does this have on apple scab? 3. Could there be a relationship between microbes and these lichens that could be beneficial? As I take pictures and if I get any results - good or bad - I will try to post them here. I am hoping that by posting this, if there is any research that any of you have come across, you can let me know.