We’ve seen some fungi in our time. Our current location however has proven to be quite the breeding ground for many new (to us) varieties. Reportedly there are 450 different kinds of mushrooms that can be found in this area. We haven’t found near that many but we’ve seen quite a few and photographed a few more.
It all started here…
We had heard tale that Morels were a sought after commodity in these parts. When we said that we didn’t know what they looked like or how to find them one of our Rangers walked somewhere just behind our van and found it so quickly that you’d think it had been a pine needle or blade of grass. Given that we had walked the same path she did many times without seeing anything similar, it was now “Game On”.
We found a lot of False Morels. In the case of the ones below, some call them Brain Mushrooms or Gyromitra Esculenta.
They are probably the largest of any of the mushrooms that we’ve seen so far and each one takes on its own character.
To us, the ones above don’t really look like Morels.
The one pictured here on the other hand sure can fool ya!
At least we’re pretty sure this is a NO MO.
And, this is a yes.?.?.?.
Yes? No? Maybe, you shouldn’t take a chance.
To be honest, although we have some ideas, we still have no true comfort with knowing. Thus, with exception to the one that the Ranger plucked for us, which Darlene sautéed in garlic and butter and ate, we have not picked or eaten any that we’ve found ourselves. Nicole by the way opted out of the morel experience so that she could retain all of her faculties should Darlene need a ride to the hospital. Although we won’t be eating the mushrooms regularly, we do enjoy wandering through the forest and looking at all of the varieties.
Here’s a few shots of what we’ve seen. Prepare yourself for Mushroom / Fungi OVERLOAD!
PARTY!
Hey! You’re getting your spores all over me!
Popcorn, anyone?
And so I said, “You mean to tell me that you aren’t a FUN-GI?
You still with us? Hang in there… there’s more.
Shroom Chandelier
Cowboy UP!
This Ink Cap was probably our coolest find yet. It was also our luckiest
because half an hour later (after a rain) it looked like this.
Take a bathroom break if you need to. We’ve got more. Hey, at least we’re taking care of it all in one post instead of prolonging the agony (er, experience).
Peek-A-Boo
Marilyn Monroe Mushroom
A little taste of Halloween.
Man DOWN!
Guess what?! You made it! Guess what else? There is no Page 2. Well, not this week anyway. There’s no telling what will pop up in the forest in the coming months.
Now, as your reward for making it through the whole post… drum roll please…
Yup… another lake scene. At least it isn’t a mushroom.
This, on the other hand…
