Looks like pincushion moss. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucobryum

Thank you@bonsai_guy, the name is as cute as the moss... will look it up!

Might not be the exact identification but it gives you something to start with. I'm more of a bonsai guy rather then a moss guy, but it's hard not to like the humble bryophyte :)

It is great indeed to have a starting point, they are growing in a wildflower garden and are the only ones I can't get information on, so am very happy, thank you! Oh, I always wonder about bonsai... are the trees happy being made to grow so small, that puzzles me

You would be the first person to ask me that! I'm glad because it's a thought I have sometimes myself. Most trees tolerate it quite well but with a few caveats. The smaller confined pot means the tree will need more frequent watering/fertilizer. You need to re-pot/root prune on a yearly basis to provide fresh soil and aeration. The trees are smaller and more vulnerable but their overall health isn't compromised.

Oh, that is so nice to hear, thank you! I always feel a bit of angst when I see bonsai trees in their tiny pots... I see what you mean though, I guess we have to learn of the care that goes in growing them, you conveyed a kind of love which is beautiful.

It depends on the moss. In a general sense moss tend to thrive in pacific northwest/north atlantic type conditions. So early morning sun with afternoon shade and high humidity with temps in the 50-75F range. Food wise they usually prefer glucose and acidic conditions. This is why you will frequently find them around old tree stumps. Rocks/stones also provide good sanctuary as they also have the additional effect of providing thermal stability the moss prefers. There are a few different techniques to growing moss. The easiest is to use which ever moss grows locally. Take a sample of the moss you want to grow and provide it a container with the right food/sunlight/moisture much like a plant.The overall maintenance will be low since nature will do most of the work for you. A common technique is to mix some moss in a food blender with some buttermilk, then paint it onto the area you want. I do not like this technique because the buttermilk will have a bad smell and results can sometimes be iffy. My kyoto moss I start from scratch with spores with clean substrate but boy is it stubborn haha.

I like to add that moss tends to grow in environments free from pollutants and are often seen as good indicators of clean air and nice places to live. I have been growing moss for a few years and feel lucky to have a variety of species thriving in my garden, some arrived on their own accord, others I transplanted or even rescued as they fell from neighbouring roofs. Some species seem to be able to take a bit of sun, but most of them like shady, moist areas. When using pots, I make sure the compost (or any other base) is organic, they wouldn't survive if there are any chemicals in the mix.

Very nicely put

I have discovered a certain humility in growing moss. The kyoto moss I normally grow can be very temperamental because my climate gets a little too hot for it. Looks great on bonsai trees but is finicky to maintain and slow growing. The moss in the photo is an unidentified local variety I found near me. It seems to be better adapted for my area (Makes sense seeing that it grows wild without help where I live). I plan to probably use this one for my trees in the future.

I wanted to reply to one of your replies, but can't. You mentioned blending moss with buttermilk and painting with that mixture. I've seen that idea as a way to do "moss graffiti". Thinking of doing this locally. Will send you a photo if successful.

hmm.. some kind of glitch or bug maybe?. Yeah the butter milk method is good for inoculating moss onto surfaces that don't have the right cellulose/food. I shy away from the method because it's not as practical for how I use moss and seems messy. This exchange has motivated me to pick up some books on moss gardening. I'll report back what I learn! Please do post some pictures! I will leave you with a proverb I once read on the back of a packet of spores "Moss are like people, you have to be patient."