Mushrooms For Moochie

I was home last weekend for my cousin's wedding and while there learned that my auntie enjoys my mushroom photos.  How exciting was that?!  So here are some Monday mushrooms for Moochie. (there are lots of photos today!  As always, click on them for a better look)

Despite my constantly-nagging to-do list (nag, nag, nag) it felt like a good day for a woods-walk.  The hubs, two younger boys, and I headed out for some wandering.  We went through our trail and when we reached the fork in the oak, jumped off into state land and wandered until scrubby hardwoods gave way to marshy wetlands. 



 



We hadn't been this far before the boys were real troopers.  Even though the tall grass kept knocking them down (and A kept losing his shoe) there wasn't a single whine or complaint.  Of course they never stopped talking either, excitedly shouting "mushroom!  MUSHROOM!!" when they found something for me to photograph.  (you've learned well, young grasshopper...) 

Here is what we found.

Lots of mushrooms feasting on stumps and dead trees.



This massive stump was completely engulfed in mushrooms and they even ran out into the grass where the tree roots were beneath the dirt.

This stump is kind of flashy, boasting at least three different mushrooms.  Show-off.

This stump was blowing bubbles of pink slime.

This one ended up with grey slime.  Slightly less appealing than the pink, I'd say.

Lots of shelf and bracket fungi were hanging onto trees too.

This tiny red fungus among the moss was amazing. (and really hard to photograph)

A smear of yellow jelly, anyone?

The mushrooms didn't limit themselves to trees of course.  We spotted these on the forest floor...

This might be a Violet Cort, but I'm not sure.  Check out his sinewy stem.

A hairy cup fungus.  This one made me squeal, I was so excited to see it.

there were surprisingly pretty colors too...

and some that my boys said were "nickles" but they didn't actually mean nickles.  ahem

We saw trails of white mushrooms.

anda gorgeous teal blue-staining fungus.

We saw more lobster mushrooms, past their prime. (which makes me weep a little)

An amanita braces itself against the coming cold with its tiny cape.

 Black trumpets are one of those mushrooms that are really difficult to spot, but once you do, you see them everywhere.

We also saw frogs and toads amongst the toadstools.  The boys each had a handful.  We do the pat-down before they come back to the house otherwise they'll sneak them inside.

It seems counterintuitive to take a couple-hour walk when my to-do list is gigantic and enraged but you know, it was just what I needed.  I felt a little recharged and ready to tackle the list upon my return, and made me realize that some of the things on that list weren't really that important in the first place.

I hope you all get a little wandery time in your busy days too.

Happy Monday.