resurrection fern

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happy valley forest sprinkled with the promise of winter

xo

m

 

early morning frost in the forest

it won't be long before these little treasures have been put to sleep for the winter

under a thick white blanket of snow

happy I have been able to get out early a few mornings this week to visit with them

have a wonderful weekend 

xo

m

happy valley

my favorite spot for a walk during the work week

and 

yes

that really is its name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

( those last three were taken of the polypore using my iphone microscope)

 

It felt like summer again yesterday

but

now we are in for a cold wet week

good thing I have lots of indoor activities to keep me busy

have a wonderful last weekend of October friends

xo

m

 

the forest floor in autumn

                                                    is adorned with mushrooms

the stem on that last one was about the size of a sewing needle:)

So much to love about this time of year.

xo

m

everchanging

any time i need a little change of scenery

i head for a walk in the forest

it is always surprising me 

but you have to look closely or you might miss all the delicate beauty

and if you want to photograph them 

you must not mind getting dirty

xo

tiny mushrooms

something truly magical about these little gems

bring on the fungi

it was looking like there wasn't going to be a mushroom to be found 

in the forest this year due to extreme heat and drought conditions 

in june and july

but then it came

the clouds, the rain

the cooler evenings

and it seemed like overnight

they started to arrive

isn't it amazing what a little moisture can do 

xo

m

 

magic

Anyone who has had an experience of mystery knows that there is a dimension of the universe that is not that which is available to his senses. There is a pertinent saying in one of the Upanishads: When before the beauty of a sunset or of a mountain you pause and exclaim, 'Ah,' you are participating in divinity. Such a moment of participation involves a realization of the wonder and sheer beauty of existence. People living in the world of nature experience such moments every day. They live in the recognition of something there that is much greater than the human dimension.

  joseph campbell

so you believe in magic

puff of green smoke

do you see it?

i wonder if the leprechaun's use it for their magic tricks?

i wonder if you also noticed all the little faces in the overwintered puff balls?

the really made me think of a japanese animated movie the children used to watch

more specifically the kodomas ( forest spirits) from Princess Mononoke

winter fungi

i walked on water today

frozen pond water 

and discovered 

winter fungi

of the schizophyllaceae sort

somewhere in the evolutionary

tree between a polypore and a gilled mushroom

or so the mycologists say

the hint of salmon pink against the dark brown wet wood

was so beautiful