When a tree dies and falls to the forest floor, it’s not done contributing to the woods. As it decays, openings develop in the wood and mushrooms and mosses grow, creating an environment where seedlings can germinate and get nutrients from the decaying wood. These are aptly called “nurse logs” as they help bring a new forest into being. In this short video, ecologist Liz Thompson points out stair-step moss, shaggy moss, and gold thread (plus baby white cedars) all taking root on a nurse log at Vermont Land Trust's Mud Pond Forest.