I don't know how these colors occurred. This part of Ireland is completely peat and thus very acidic. In fact, during our drives on the back roads, I saw hundereds of piles of peat "bricks" that are used for heating in this part of Ireland.
I just have to send you a few more pics, if I can find it. All the trees, stones, and grounds around the Ballynahinch Castle were covered in green, and I assumed it was just a heavy layer of lichens growing on them. The climate there stays cool and wet all year long. When we took a guided, three-hour nature tour of the grounds, the guide told me this was all sphagnum moss, not lichens. Gosh, I use bales and bales of sphagnum moss for my tropicals, and buy New Zealand sphagnum. I have seen it growing naturally in S. Mississippi but never have seen it literally growing on everything.
Ken
