Fungi, Lichen & Slime Molds 1

Another view of these teeny mushrooms that were growing on a small leaf when we walked at Paskapoo Slopes in the city mid-August. Such fragile little things : ) I feel totally exhausted today, in part due to still thinking about the woman's body that was discovered on Monday in one of my main local parks. The woman has been identified, but info on the cause of death is awaiting autopsy results. Three of us went for a morning's walk today, which of all places was in the area right next to the area where the body was discovered. Not a pleasant feeling at all - feel very sad for her family. It has changed how I feel even when stepping off the path by just a few feet (to check that there were no fungi growing on logs!). A very down feeling : (

This fungus, which was growing at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park on 17th August, has a wonderfully velvet look to it. Love the forest floor "litter" : )

These two little mushrooms were growing in a more open part of the forest at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, maybe three weeks ago, so the ground "litter" was a little different - quite a mix of colours. Explore highest, #112, 13th September 2009

I think this must be some kind of Slime Mold. Found in the Bragg Creek Natural Area, west of the city, two days ago. It was the colour that caught my eye. They looked very much like very tiny Blueberries on this rotting log : )

Just a little mushroom in the spotlight, deep amongst the forest trees. Caught the sunlight on it, which made the cap a glorious, rich colour. Found it on 6th August at the Bentz Lake Natural Area, north west of the city. Several of us went back to the Bragg Creek Natural Area for the day today, to botanize a different part of it. Oh, the poor mushrooms were in such a sorry state - dried, withered and broken : ( No rain in our forecast for the next few days, either. Still managed to see some other interesting things though. Only got about an hour's sleep last night and the same two nights ago, so I am falling asleep at my computer here - and it's not even 6:00 p.m.! Later, almost midnight - thanks so much, everyone, for visiting - I fell asleep in front of the TV and woke up to find it was about 11:30 p.m. and of course I hadn't put all three of my photos into groups or added any tags, LOL.

I am trying to gradually learn a little about Lichens, but they aren't easy, and there are so many of them. I've always loved photographing them, but felt it was time to start learning - if my aging brain cells can take it : ) Thanks, Sandy, for the ID - just hope I'm matching the right name to the right photo. It really is attractive when you see it up close. This was growing on a tree in Bragg Creek Natural Area.

This is an Amanita muscaria, Fly Agaric, seen on 20th August at West Bragg Creek Provincial Park. Though it is very attractive, it is also poisonous.

This tiny Cladonia lichen (the green "fingers") was growing on a small branch along with other lichens and moss at Griffith Woods on 5th August.

I had to go back into my archives a little way for this photo, to 22nd August. Seen in West Bragg Creek Natural Area. Looks like our mushroom season is pretty much over for this year, so most of my mushroom photos from now on will have to come from my archives. Love these beautiful, elegant white ones with their upturned caps, showing off their graceful gills. LOL, can you tell I absolutely love photographing fungi?