Card Set N° 18 – Virtues of Wood

We were immediately fascinated when we discovered these remarkable pieces of deadwood on a beach in New Zealand. Their unusual surfaces and sculptural forms seem almost like works of art created by nature. But there is more to these fascinating shapes than the visible remains of a tree; they are part of a living ecosystem.

Deadwood is anything but "dead." As soon as a tree dies, a new phase in the natural cycle begins. Fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, and numerous insect species use the wood as a habitat. They leave traces, bore tunnels, and alter its surface. As the wood slowly decomposes, nutrients are released back into the soil. In this way, a complex network of interrelationships is created that contributes significantly to biodiversity.

Deadwood also plays an important role in forest regeneration. It can store moisture, gradually release nutrients, and create protected conditions in which young plants can grow. Especially in dry periods, the stored water can be valuable for the forest and its inhabitants.

Virtues of Wood presents deadwood as fascinating sculptures of nature and as an essential part of the natural cycle. What looks like the end of a tree is in reality a place where life continues, transforms, and begins anew.

• One card set contains 5 different motifs
• Format: 104 × 140 mm
• Offset print in Zurich, Switzerland
• Z-Offset natural paper, 400 g/m²
• FSC-certified paper
• Concept & design: Bienvenue Studios