Dina Pritchett

Mosses are ancient, simple plants, which grow from the driest deserts to the highest mountaintops. Their ancestors helped create the oxygen levels that made human life possible. I think moss is something that we kind of take for granted. Student Kenji Yamamoto helped organize this year's Moss Appreciation Week with moss walks, moss talks, moss valentines, and a moss petting zoo.

Mosses are ancient, simple plants, which grow from the driest deserts to the highest mountaintops. Their ancestors helped create the oxygen levels that made human life possible. I think moss is something that we kind of take for granted. Student Kenji Yamamoto helped organize this year's Moss Appreciation Week with moss walks, moss talks, moss valentines, and a moss petting zoo.

It's undeniably silly, but Yamamoto says it can also be profound.

It's undeniably silly, but Yamamoto says it can also be profound.

Moss Appreciation Week may have come to an end, but moss itself, of course, can be appreciated anytime. Just look around. For NPR News, I'm Dena Pritchett in Portland, Oregon.

Moss Appreciation Week may have come to an end, but moss itself, of course, can be appreciated anytime. Just look around. For NPR News, I'm Dena Pritchett in Portland, Oregon.