Troubled Sedges

Found some unusual sedge perigynia on a walk last Saturday. Looks like a fungal infection; a rust or smut, perhaps? I found some more yesterday (after I did this sketch page). It was drier than the plants I drew, and when I touched the infected perigynia, my fingertips came away smudged with sooty dust.

Sedge-fungus

Muskeg Ants

Went for a walk yesterday evening on the muskeg above the house. Lots of berries this year, and signs that somebody has been digging for ants again: little excavations in the sphagnum. Birds? Dextrous bears? The sight reminded me of  a sketch-page investigation of the muskeg ants:

Muskeg-ants