Fungi, Lichen & Slime Molds 1

I always love seeing Puffballs - which is a good thing, as there were more of these in Brown-Lowery Provincial Park two days ago than anything else, or so it seemed. We need some rain, as fungi are drying up everywhere - which can't be allowed to happen, LOL!

This was such an exciting sight on Saturday, when a handful of us went to botanize West Bragg Creek Provincial Park! It was maybe half the size shown in my photo. I am hoping that someone might be able to suggest an ID for this fungus - a friend did wonder if it might be some kind of False Morel. Just so pretty - almost like a tiny, crystalized Rose : ) I LOVE seeing new things!

A gorgeous Scaber Stalk fungus seen on a walk at Paskapoo Slopes in the city a week ago. We have seen this species of mushroom in a number of different places recently. Always such a bright splash of colour. By the way, I'm posting my "daily three" early today because I am going CANOEING down the Bow River all afternoon! This will be my very first time (though I have been in a canoe once before in my life, but not on the river), and I am both excited and SCARED TO DEATH!!! I have longed to travel down the river for many years. Yesterday, a friend (an experienced canoeist) asked if I still wanted to do it, and so that's what we will be doing. I suspect that my already-painful (from too much mouse-clicking and from struggling to get into my backpack!) shoulders/arms will be excrutiatingly painful by the end of the day, so maybe I won't be able to even raise them to type on my keyboard. If I don't drown, then I will be SOOO relieved. Come and stand on one of the bridges over the river in the city or on the river bank and cheer us on - just kidding, ha!

We saw a cluster of these small fungi on 22nd August in West Bragg Creek Provincial Park. Most of them had a bluish cap. As usual, I don't know the ID for this one. All I know is that I hadn't seen one like this before.

I just love these enormous, white fungi - so perfect, so exactly round, like a dinner plate! Seen in Brown-Lowery Provincial Park on 17th August.

Presumably, this is some kind of "fan" fungus? The largest one shows the fan pattern best. Doug, I thought these looked somewhat like your Velvety Fairy Fan, apart from the colour. We saw these on 22nd August in West Bragg Creek Provincial Park. Later: thanks, Doug, for the ID!

Yesterday, on a walk in Bebo Grove, Fish Creek Park, I came across this little cluster of pointy mushrooms. I don't think I've seen this shaped fungi before.

Not the greatest photo, but there was something about this and several other similar mushrooms that appealed to me : ) Seen at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park on 17th August.

To come across such a fungus in the forest is truly amazing and magical. I always think they look almost man-made, like pottery. This one was seen on a hike along the Fullerton Loop, Kananaskis, starting from Allan Bill Pond, when six of us went to botanize the area. The trail signs say that this is a 6.7 km loop, but of course we explored the forest and so were closer to around 10 kms. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------