Fungi, Lichen & Slime Molds 1

A friend pointed out this beautiful specimen of Comb Tooth fungus when we were doing a repeat botanizing trip on the Handfield property, west of Millarville, south of Calgary. I had seen this kind of fungus before, but maybe only two or three times, so it was exciting to come across it again.

This very small Puffball was seen on our Pocaterra Cirque hike on 25th July. Puffball sp., Lycoperdon sp. I love the texture of its surface.

Can't give you an ID - will wait until you post yours, Doug : ). This was such an exciting find yesterday on our botanizing trip to Marston Creek, on the most south easterly edge of Kananaskis. When we first saw it, only part of it was visible, seen from the side, growing on a fallen log. After taking photos, Doug pulled it out completely to reveal the whole cap and stalk for identification purposes. I've never seen a mushroom like this before - makes me think of a poached egg : )

Hope I didn't do a 'happy dance" when I saw these on Monday, but I sure felt like doing one, LOL! They were growing in a corner of a fallen log in the forest along the Marston Creek hiking trail, in Kananaskis Country. I'm always delighted when we find a little cluster of shrooms! Most of our hike was either up or down the mountain side (we climbed about 1,200'), but the forested area was a break from open meadows and rocky areas. I tend to take close-ups of fungi, but this time I thought I would include their forest setting. It kinda makes me feel as if I'm actually there still.

Sorry, folks, I have so many fungi photos to eventually upload. These two mushrooms were growing along the Marston Creek trail (southeastern edge of Kananaskis, off Highway 40) three days ago. Today, I was in mushroom heaven again (with five friends), this time northwest of the city, west of Sundre, at the Bentz Lake Natural Area. Left home about 6:45 a.m. this morning and I have just got home around 8:00 p.m. this evening. A full day of walking and exploring forest and bog - in fact, my feet have been soaking wet for maybe nine hours, LOL! However, we saw so many amazing things, everything from a Police Car Moth to tiny Wood Frogs, and from a few new plants including Yellow Pondlily to beautiful, brightly coloured mushrooms and slime molds. I'm tired out (even more so as I got practically no sleep last night) from so much fresh air, exercise and excitement. I'm so glad no one tape records all my oohs and aahs, LOL!

I was thrilled to bits yesterday when friends called me over to see this beautiful, red mushroom! We don't usually see a sight like this, so it was an extra special surprise when we were exploring and botanizing the forest at the Bentz Lake Natural Area, north of Calgary and west of Sundre. And, yes, in case you are wondering, this really IS its colour : )

One of the lovely fungi we came across yesterday, when a handful of us botanized the Bentz Lake Natural Area, north of Calgary, west of Sundre. These ones are Oyster mushrooms, growing from an old, rotting log. They almost glow in the dark of the forest.

I found this beautiful mushroom growing in Bragg Creek Provincial Park yesterday, just west of Calgary. A handful of us were there all day, to record all flora and fauna that we found. Or I should say that I keep busy taking photos and trying (in vain) to keep up with my friends. I was thrilled to bits when I noticed this fungus, and I love both the colour and the wonderful texture of the cap. It may have been something like 3" across.

A really "cluttered" photo taken in low light, but I was just delighted to finally find some refraction in SOMETHING, LOL! Saw this colourful Polypore growing on a tree in Bragg Creek Provincial Park three days ago. Occasionally, one of these Polypores will have droplets of some kind of liquid around the lower edge and underneath and I'm not sure just what that liquid is, but the droplets look so pretty. Thanks to Gorpie for telling me that the droplets are caused by guttation! Much appreciated!