The moss at the base of this towering birch tree is
incrementally and methodically working its way up the trunk.
It will never reach the top, but it won’t have to.
As the moss spiders into breaches in the bark and feeds deeper and deeper
into the tree, it will weaken the trunk until the tree collapses.
The moss will then complete its mission of returning the tree to the earth.
And then the cycle will begin again.
m1nute 
Very interesting composition with the surrounding trees circling in the background. Didn’t know that about moss…
Yes, the encircling trees have an ambivalent feel; could be supportive, could be menacing.