Low Water Highs

I'm intrigued by what I'm finding at low water level in our lake.

Here is some swollen bladderwort (Utricularia inflata) vegetation, sprawled and drying like a net throughout the mud.

It's easy to see the hexagonal patterns and zigzag branching we have described previously in our period of getting-to-know this plant, a species previously undocumented in Maine.

There are places where the maroon growing tips stand out strikingly well

Rocks not visible previously are 'appearing' in the water. Initially they're smooth and uncluttered, but a few days later look like this. The muskrats have been collecting and heaping vegetation up onto them.

A close up view of one of the fragments looked as if it had faceted crystals throughout - so beautiful!