Fungi, Lichen & Slime Molds 1

Noticed this pair of fungi growing fairly high up on a tree this afternoon. The sky was overcast, which my little camera does not like, but, hey, it's a fungus, so I have to try, LOL! These were seen on a walk just south of the creek below the Bow Valley Ranch area in Fish Creek Park.

I think I've found enough fungi in the past ten days to keep me going for quite a while, LOL! Returned today to the same densely forested natural area for the afternoon. Found a few different things, though they could easily be the same as some of my previous finds, but just at a different stage. The teeny mushrooms above are just a small part of an enormous cluster that was growing at the base of a tree in a dark area (which means, yes, I was more or less lying on my stomach!). I needed to use flash, which is not good on my camera - or else I'm not using it correctly : )

Nothing too flashy, but this little mushroom was all alone in the dense forest and looked so thin and delicate. A pale pink made a welcome change of colour for me, too!

I came across this bright yellow Lichen on a branch at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. Most of the Lichen I see tends to be green, so this bright colour stood out.

I'm not sure if this kind of mushroom always has a sheen to it, or maybe it only looks like this after recent rain. I liked the shape, colour and glossy surface of this one. Found at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. I was talking to a staff member from one of our main parks (natural areas) in the city this afternoon and she said she lives just ten minutes away from Brown-Lowery - she and her husband had a Grizzly Bear on their acreage the other day. She said that Brown-Lowery is full of Cougars and Bears, and other animals like Moose, and that it was most probable that I was being watched while I was walking there. No wonder I always have a very creepy feeling when there! Funny, somehow I'm not so keen to go there on my own anymore!

The forest is full of fascinating fungi at the moment. Saw this one at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park BEFORE I was told that this natural area has lots of Cougars and Bears and that it is not a good idea to go there on ones own!! I went four times, so was able to photogaph quite a few mushrooms, but now I'm not so sure I want to go back alone. I find it a very creepy place to be, LOL! Walking the area is quite treacherous - very easy to trip over tree roots or fallen logs and branches, and you could be in there for days (at least) before being found. I'm so glad I got my photos when I did : )

This photo makes me just feel happy, LOL! Not sure if this was the same log where just one of these mushrooms was growing the other day - I uploaded a photo of this single fungus a few photos "down". We saw this little family grouping on a walk just below the Bow Valley Ranch this morning. Made my day : ). (I know - it doesn't take much to make my day!)

A cluster of small mushrooms in the dense forest at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park.

The lighting was really bad in the forested area at Bebo Grove, but I'm trying to ignore the blown-out log, LOL. Love the names of these two species of fungi : ). The Red Tree Brain fungi are just little blobs - this image is zoomed. I am constantly in awe of the colours, shapes and textures of everything that grows deep within the woods, most of which could so easily be missed by a casual hiker. Oh, no, I feel the start of a craving to explore and see what else I can find!!!