How did she come up with that?

This is a Lichen I found up at Odell Lake.  I think it is Letharia vulpina.   I read that Lichen’s peculiar biology (part fungus part algae), make it especially challenging to identify.  Regardless of it’s name Lichen is astoundingly, oddly, delicately beautiful.   When I picked this one up off the frozen ground and peered at it, for a moment I was stunned and breathless to see the rippled little brown cups with their electric green fringe, like something from a magical realm or a bizarre science fiction scenario.
This is what keeps me making images of plants, fungus, lichens... When I really look at mother nature’s work I am always caught off guard, awed, confused, and excited.  Hands down, she is my favorite artist!