Photos, videos and docs of Janet Brien, with the keywords: "fungus"

Mushrooms at Beverly Beach State Park (+6 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 18:22:23 +0000

(+6 insets)

Wonderful Memories of Beverly Beach
Today's presentation is my last from this gorgeous park. I hope we'll get to come back to enjoy it again but we certainly soaked up its beauty over the two-week stay we had here. I was simply blown away by the greenery everywhere and loved every opportunity to take walks on the trails that looped this campground. Though the weather was often too windy or stormy to go out on the beach, I was still able to take advantage on the few opportunities when it was nice.

Today's Picture
One day Steve came back from a walk with Pumpkin on the trail around the park and told me he'd discovered a fantastic group of mushrooms on a stump. The next day we went out together and he showed me the stump…it was right off the trail and yet I'd missed it! I took some pictures with my phone and the next day I came back for more. This one showed one lovely group that posed beautifully for me!

Today's Insets
Inset #1: I found one cluster of lovely Pacific Bleeding Hearts along the trail and was very happy to get some nice pictures. What I didn't realize is that some of the flowers which I've called Bleeding Hearts are actually a related plant called Squirrel Corn. (They are named for the interesting corn-like corms that grow in their roots.) Now that I know, whenever I find white or near-white flowers, they are Squirrel Corn, not these, which are truly Bleeding Hearts (The difference between Bleeding Hearts and Squirrel Corn).

Inset #2: This Bristle Flower, or Piggy Back Plant, grew right next to the trail and was easy to overlook because of the brownish-looking flowers. It was only when you crouched down and stared at these tiny blossoms that you saw how beautiful their dramatic maroon and green-striped petals were!

Inset #3: Partially framed with huge Skunk Cabbage leaves, this image shows the clear water of Spencer Creek and the glowing green plants along its banks.

Inset #4: A vertical panorama of Spencer Creek with the lovely dappling on the streambed and green trees above.

Inset #5: A look up the trail to the footbridge across Spencer Creek, you can barely pick it out in this emerald forest!

Inset #6: A final look at the expansive coastline of Beverly Beach. So breathtaking, isn't it?

Thank You For Stopping By!
I am so happy that you've come to see my pictures! Things are getting crazy now with our trip set to start so soon! So much to do! I hope all is well for all of you, and please know how much it means to me that I have this wonderful community to hold me close. You're all so great. :)

Trio of Mushrooms at Beverly Beach State Park (+6 insets)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 17:55:19 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+6 insets)

Oregon is Brimming with Lovely Sights
The number of beautiful places in Oregon is simply staggering, with an endless variety of landscapes and environments to appreciate. We've had the privilege of seeing many of its treasures, but honestly, we've really only scratched the surface. In fact, we haven't seen the eastern part of the state at all, which ranges from towering forested mountains to arid, sprawling deserts. And though we've spent plenty of time up and down the coastline, there are so many places we haven't seen. And, even when parks may be close together, the habitats are often entirely different, so I'm always prepared for wonderful surprises wherever we go.

Today's Picture
There were lots of beautiful mushrooms to find on my walks and this perfect group was in just the right spot for an easy picture. I often have to spend time "clearing the stage" by removing sticks, leaves, bits of grass and other distractions, but once in a while I don't have to do anything! Seated in a bed of moss, I was dazzled at the wonderful texture and shape of this group's mocha-colored caps.

Today's Insets
Inset #1: Related to Bleeding Hearts and Dutchman's Breeches, this flower's name will make you laugh--Squirrel Corn! The name comes from its underground food storage structures which look like corn kernels. Like many wildflowers, they contain chemicals that, if consumed in sufficient quantities, can be toxic.

Inset #2: Beautiful new growth on conifers was everywhere to be seen and I loved to stare at the bright green sprigs that contrasted dramatically against the deep green of last year's growth.

Inset #3: A pair of trees, entwined for life, look like a loving green couple to me and I smiled up at them every day as I passed by. Aren't they wonderful?

Inset #4: The number of plant species that grew along the Spencer Creek trail was ridiculous and reminded me of a rain forest in the number and variety. For many days, I walked by clusters of what looked like dried-up brown flowers before I stopped and took a closer look. They weren't dried up at all, nor were they brown! They were so small I didn't notice them for what they were--tiny Bristle Flowers in stunning tones of striped magenta, pink and maroon.

Inset #5: A vertical panorama of Spencer's Creek show the majesty of what I saw every day. Dappled stripes, shadows and sparkles on the shallow steam, and the stunning greenery that stretched for the sky.

Inset #6: A pile of bull kelp on the sand at Beverly's Beach grabbed my attention in this image; in the distance a man threw a ball for his dog on this moody and magical day.

Thank You For Coming By!
I appreciate all of your visits, comments, and stars so much. With February rolling out before us, the promise of spring gets stronger with every passing day. Twinkling frosty mornings greet me and I hope that your weekend and upcoming week are full of pretty days too!

Explored on 2/5/22; highest placement #2.

Pearly Droplets on Fungus & Many Mushrooms at Tugman State Park! (+9 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:49:17 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+9 insets!)

On the Hunt for Fungus!
You probably know that one of my favorite finds are mushrooms, and it's always something I'm looking for whenever I go on a macro stroll. It took a while to find any while we were at Tugman but eventually I hit pay dirt! Slowing down to a creep, I discovered mushrooms peeping out from beds of moss, attached to logs and even peering down at me from lofty heights on tree trunks. I even found an American yellow fly agaric, the blond version of my bucket list mushroom, the Amanita muscaria. It was easy enough to find various species of shelf fungus, and at one point I discovered a huge one right next to the trail that was bristling with droplets. Eying the beads of moisture closely, I couldn't help but ponder…those aren't dew drops, so what are they?

Those Droplets are called Guttation and They Occur in Plant Species Too!
This moisture oozes out of many types of fungus at times of rapid growth with proper temperature and humidity. They can be clear or tinted with colors from yellow to blood red. Some mushrooms use this guttation to create a protective slime that makes them glossy in appearance (I iincluded a picture of a Cowboy Mushroom found on our property, and it's a clickable link with many insets)

In plant species, guttation happens at night when the pressure of excess water in roots forces moisture out of the leaves. This will ring a bell to you when you think about leaves that have beads of water perfectly arranged around the edge of a leaf! I always wondered how dew could have formed so perfectly that way…and now I know that it wasn't dew at all!

This article is brimming with awesome photography and a lot more information about guttation, which I encourage you to read and enjoy! Read it and Weep: Fungal Guttation

Immortalized Before Being Mutilated
The two pictures of this lovely bracket fungus turned out to be very fortunate timing. Located along the longer Eel Lake trail, Steve and I had admired this prominently positioned fungus each time we passed and when I came back with my macro lens I got the pictures I'm sharing today. A couple of days later we made our successful hike to the end of the trail and back, and admired the eye-level bracket fungus on the way in. On the way back we encountered a very noisy group of kids headed our way, led by an obnoxious young adult. Disturbing the peace of the forest, they yelled back and forth and none of which were observing safe distancing. We noticed that the leader had a knife and was looking around and cutting things off trees. A while after we passed by, I noticed a bracket fungus with a huge section sliced off its bottom. Wait. THAT WAS THE BEAUTIFUL SHELF BRACKET I'D PHOTOGRAPHED! Suddenly it hit me--that jerk was mutilating everything he found of interest along the trail! That explained the branches, bits of mushroom and fungus we kept finding littered along the path as we made our way back. What a shame. What a jerk. But I did get these pictures for all of us to enjoy!

Fungus Insets Galore!
I'm including images of the wonderful mushrooms I've processed from our trip to William Tugman State Park and I hope you enjoy the show (I also added the few I put on earlier trip posts too)

I hope all of you are doing well, keeping safe, dry and warm!

Explored on 2/26/21; highest placement #4.

Strange and Wonderful Indian Pipe Fungus FLOWER from Tugman State Park! (+5 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:57:49 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+5 insets)

Eel Lake Hikes: The Short and the Long
There were two trails walkable from the William Tugman State Park campground: the short 1.1 mile one I walked every morning went around part of the west edge of Eel Lake. The other one was a proper hike of 6.6 miles out and back along the eastern side. We only managed to walk to the very end once due to injuries and timing, but it was a fantastic trail that we look forward to enjoying again on our next visit. The experience was equally spectacular to the shorter daily walk but six times longer! :D (If you'd like to read about this awesome hike, I found a page that has pictures and lots of information: Oregon Hikers: Eel Lake Hike

Our first trip on the longer trail took us only about half way before Steve's sore knee had us turning around but we did get far enough that I found these incredible Indian Pipe Fungus plants! We stared in amazement as I took a few pictures of this strange and beautiful fungus...or...plant? WHAT ARE THESE THINGS?!

This is Not a Fungus...it's a Flower!
Growing out of the ground very much like a fungus, I stared in confusion at these growths, wondering what they were. Honestly, their ghostly color made them look like some sort of strange mushroom, but…they didn't have gills or the spongy quality of a fungus. I couldn't help but scratch my head about this odd find.

Hopping onto the internet, I soon learned discovered that these things are flowering plants, not fungus! They grow only in deep forest, erupting from the ground on a single spike, producing one bell-shaped flower which is pollinated by small bumblebee and fly species. They have no chlorophyll and thus, don't depend on photosynthesis for energy. Instead, Indian Pipe Fungus get their energy from fungus! Now there's a switch--they are parasites! Also known as Ghost Plants (Monotropa uniflora), these extremely delicate plants take about three days to erupt from the ground, flower and die, succumbing quickly to the damaging effects of sunlight. In fact, it was difficult to find any that weren't dried up or in the process of turning black.

These odd plants can be found in North, Central and northern South America, and also Asia. They have been used as an herbalist remedy with calming effects and are said to taste a bit like asparagus for those who can't resist eating one. If you'd like more information about these mycoheterotrophs, there's a page on Wiki but also this nice page on a gardening website.

Gardening Know How: Indian Pipe Fungus
Wikipedia: Indian Pipe Fungus

I hope you are all having a very nice week! It's been amazingly beautiful for us and sunny outside--yay for getting exercise and vitamin D!

Explored on 2/25/21; highest placement #1.

Joseph Stewart State Park, Set 6: Brave Mushroom and Visions of Fall (+10 insets!)

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 19:37:00 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+10 insets!) (Please scroll down to Today's Insets and Final Thoughts about Photography at Joseph Stewart for added picture information)

This will be my last set of nature pictures from our trip to Joseph Stewart State Park (I have another set of metal detector finds to finish off my trip pictures). My main image is one of my very favorite macro subjects!

For the Love of Mushrooms
Have you ever gone out with the specific intention to find mushrooms? They aren't always easy to locate! On my first outing with my macro lens, I kept my eyes open for mushrooms while I took pictures of leaves and other things but I didn't see any. I wasn't really focused on them at the time though and I figured there were plenty of them in deeper forest locations. The next day, Steve and I went on a favorite walk which took us past the edge of a thick stand of trees. Ah-hah! That's where they were hiding! There were bunches of them just off the side of the path and a little while later I came back with my camera to take pictures.

One of the things that made it hard to find them were all of the leaves covering them up. I kept my eyes open for curious lumps in the piles of leaves I saw and often revealed a wonderful prize underneath with a careful brushing.

When I take pictures of mushrooms, I do a lot of preparation beforehand. I remove anything I can that obscures or detracts, especially from the background. All it takes is one stem behind a subject to totally ruin an otherwise lovely bokeh, so I'm fastidious about making the scene as tidy as possible. I've learned though that taking time beforehand will make it much easier when I'm processing the image later.

The mushrooms I found at John Stewart were almost all hiding under leaves and I wanted to share that experience if I could. As I uncovered them and cleaned up each scene, I tried to keep a leaf or two exactly where it was if it enhanced the image.

As I revealed this mushroom, I got a huge smile on my face. Cuddled against it was a partially disintegrated black oak leaf. Wearing this leafy cloak of courage, the brave little mushroom turned to peer up at me and my huge, imposing camera. It watched curiously as I cleared the area, carefully pulling bits of grass and twigs out of the way. I cooed gently to soothe its trembling when I reached down to remove a bit of dirt from its head. The warm sound of my voice must have been strange but it relaxed and appeared to be happy now.

There! Everything was just perfect and I crawled backwards to compose and capture a set of images. While I clicked my way through apertures, I thought about the nice time I had taking these pictures of mushrooms. So many different kinds, sizes and neat groupings. As I gazed back at the darling mushroom and its little leaf, I knew this was my favorite one of all.

Today's Insets and Final Thoughts about Photography at Joseph Stewart
The fun subjects never ended as I wandered around…the first inset looks a lot like a cluster of grapes but it's actually a dried bunch of flowers on a bush, magnificently lit up in the autumn sunshine. I was so happy to get the chance to get some fall pictures because I didn't go out on any seasonal photo shoots. I had hoped there would be some nice pictures to find at Joseph Stewart and I sure did hit pay dirt! You will see lots of leaves that I liked (including one sitting next to the water hookup valve at our site), another colorful meadow scene, a pine cone, and even a stump that was totally covered with lovely bracket fungus! I didn't spend too much time with my camera while we were at the park--perhaps an hour at most?--and yet, look at all of the wonderful things I found. What fun it was to relax and melt into my passion. :)

Pam, I'm hoping that you're feeling better today…I know you said it's been very painful after your procedure. Wishing for a day of comfort and anticipation for the next steps in your recovery! *BIG HUGS* :)

Explored on 12/04/19; highest placement #2.

Pictures for Pam, Day 147: Translucent Mushroom with Droplets & Bokeh

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 01:39:16 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+2 insets!)

Along with spring finally arriving comes the crazy weather we get at this time. During the course of a single day, almost every weather condition can be described. For example, right now it's sunny but there's a cloud in the way to make it a bit dim. Earlier it was so windy the house shook and rain pummeled the windows. Still, it's very beautiful outside and my walk was wonderful. The violent wind made really cool ripples on the surface of our pond, but I noticed when I went back up the hill that the water was still! Crazy I tell you, crazy!

Yesterday I mentioned that mushrooms had popped up all over our meadow and down the sides of our road. I got a bunch of pictures and promised to share a few when I was able. Well, how about today?! The main picture shows a mushroom that was next to our road near our gate and when I spotted several of these stunning, translucent beauties I made sure that I walked down to take pictures of them first because I knew they would be very special.

Another thing about this type of mushroom is how fragile and temporary they are. Some mushrooms will last for days but these sprout early in the morning and by the afternoon they are tattered old relics or gone entirely. I learned this the hard way once when I spotted one and thought I'd wait until later to take pictures. After a few hours I came back with my camera but it had disintegrated into a sad heap. I was upset because it had been so lovely. Nothing like a unhappy outcome to teach one to act in a timely matter if the chance ever comes around again.

My insets include two more from yesterday but I'm going to share the others another time so they get the proper attention they deserve! Do you ever do that? I have many pictures that I think deserve "first billing" or the center stage. Others I think are nice but aren't the same caliber in my opinion and I am comfortable adding them as insets. I feel almost protective about special subjects that I really love and I won't post them unless they are a main image. That's why I'm saving some of my mushroom pictures. It was such a lucky day and several turned out so well that I don't want to show them all at once! They deserve the center stage!

Pam, it's another mushroom day so I've gone hunting on your stream for a likely candidate to gush over. *time passes*...Welllll, I know there were some other mushrooms that I haven't called attention to but I couldn't find them. SO. I spun the roulette wheel and ended up with your incredible, tiny, candy-striped blossoms, aptly named Spring Beauties! How I love these flowers and their myriad and subtle color variations. They are one of a zillion examples which prove that even the tiniest flower can be as outrageously beautiful as blooms five times their size. You sure did a nice job photographing these, what a stunning bouquet from Mother Nature herself. *BIG HUGS*

Explored on 4/6/19, highest placement, #2.

Pictures for Pam, Day 82: Furry Mushroom

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:23:19 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(+2 insets!) (looks better at full size for more fuzzy details!)

Looking over my photo stream today, I've noticed a lacking of MUSHROOMS! That needs to change! :) I have a couple more mushrooms from my trip down to San Anselmo but I am not sure they are "main picture worthy." I do have one which I've finished and you'll see it as an inset.

This furry little mushroom I'm sharing today was a wonderful discovery. A month or so ago I'd decided to wander around our lower forest on a very wet morning after it stopped raining. I was hunting for mushrooms and other fungus and focused my attention on sticks and branches that had fallen to the ground. I found many interesting lichens and mosses, and I also discovered some micro mushrooms too.

After studying a lichen-encrusted stick, I spotted another one nearby and picked it up carefully. First I found a micro mushroom...but then I spotted something so small I could hardly even see it. It was maybe the size of a lower-case "o" and it was FUZZY. It looked like maybe it could be a mushroom so I took a set of pictures. Studying the branch even more carefully, my nose nearly touching the surface, I spotted another one and it was most definitely a fuzzy mushroom! It was sitting next to several more that were just starting to grow. My excitement had no bounds! I'd never seen such a cool little fuzzy mushroom!

My main image features this darling little mushroom. My first inset shows a family portrait as it stands next to some extremely shy family members who don't want their picture taken! :D Aren't they adorable?! They are so small they are barely visible and I am so delighted that I got pictures to share. I went back the next day to take more pictures but I couldn't find the stick. So sad! I will keep my eyes open, maybe someday I'll find more!

My other inset was taken down in San Anselmo on our first hike. In fact, Nathalie found them and I heard her whoop in excitement when she spotted the group. I could see what all the fuss was about when I got to her. The group was HUGE! I think they must have been about 1.5 feet across from one side to the other. And STRANGE...they are such an odd cluster, aren't they?! I love them! Thank you Nathalie for discovering these mushrooms (and you found the others I photographed too)!

Pam, I hope today was better than the past couple. I know you've been on a rough ride. Maybe the sun will come out soon for you. *hugggggs*

Explored on 1/29/19, highest placement, #1.

Pictures for Pam, Day 59: Marin Mushrooms

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 01:22:12 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

I have been spending a lot of time looking through the pictures I took while I was down in San Anselmo visiting my brother and his wife. So many photos! (over 1400!!) So many subjects! One of the nicest things was just being out of my usual local. In a new place there are so many more opportunities to find something different and unusual. And then again, there are usual favorites as well!

Nathalie, who is my younger brother's wife, took us on two hikes while we were there. Both of them started by merely walking out the door, going down the drive and up the road to the open space that was literally 5 minutes away. This public-accessible open space is filled with trails, meadows, and forest for all to enjoy. Marin County, where San Anselmo is found, has nearly 250 miles of trails and 16,000 acres of land that is set aside for recreation. Needless to say, it's a haven for anyone who loves the outdoors.

On our first hike, I kept my eyes open for mushrooms, and boy did we hit the jackpot! Today's picture features a beautiful group that were sitting on the side of a hill, easy to get at and prepare for pictures. Nathalie was interested to see what I was doing and Steve helped me pull away leaves and dirt. I was very hopeful that I'd get some good shots and when I finally got to see them on the computer I couldn't resist diving into this image the moment I saw it! Hooray!

Pam, I loved to see the video of your dogs playing in your pond! That was sooooo cute. We also have a seasonal pond and it's finally filling up after a fairly dry autumn and early winter. Watching your dogs playing in the water reminded me of the fun that our Boxer had running in and out of the water when it was full. What a silly dog...how I miss her. It was such fun to think about those great memories though! I hope you are feeling good today my dear!

Explored on 1/7/19, highest placement, #1.

Pictures for Pam, Day 55: Pair of Mushrooms

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 00:09:20 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Steve and I are staying at my brother's home in the San Francisco Bay Area and a couple of days ago (and today also!) his wife took us on a hike up into the San Anselmo hills. It was a lovely day, though very windy and on the cold side, but the views were terrific! I brought my camera along with the hopes that I might find a few subjects to take pictures of. As it turned out, we actually found mushrooms! There were a surprising number of them too, and I am crossing my fingers that I'll get some winners when I get the chance to look at them on my computer.

Today's mushrooms were photographed quite a while ago but I didn't have the chance to share them until today. I discovered this pair growing on the side of a rotting log while exploring our lower forest. It's amazing how fast a mushroom can appear when the conditions are right. I'd walked by this spot the day before and didn't see anything of interest. But when I investigated one day later, I found this pair of cutie pies, just waiting for their picture!

Pam, I noticed that you have taken some pictures of mushrooms too! I love hunting for them as much as you enjoy finding butterflies on your flowers! I sure do hope that you are doing well today. Thanks so much for the lovely comments you've been leaving me, they make me so happy. Thinking of you every day!

Explored on 1/3/19, highest placement, #1.

Pictures for Pam, Day 37: Micro-Mushrooms

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 04:37:40 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

What an incredibly magical morning it was. Pumpkin and I peeked outside first thing today and found a world cloaked in mist. Fog had filled the valley and wafted up the hills; only the closest trees in our meadow and lower forest could be seen, slipping in and out of view.

My walk was wonderful too. As I did my laps I relished the appearance of the forest and meadows shrouded in fog. At one point I noticed movement down by our gate and looked to see several mule deer trotting off into the mist, their tails held up like white flags. Later I heard the cry of a Redtail hawk and turned to watch it materialize and land in a tall pine tree. I stood and watched for the moment it perched there, repeating its calls several times before alighting and flying in a long circle and then away, its cries fading into the distance.

At one point I walked off the road and over to an Oak tree. Taking off my glasses, I peered at its moss and lichen-encrusted bark so close that my nose nearly touched the tree. I call this "nose-close" and this is where my horrible nearsightedness pays off. I have what I like to call "micro-vision" because I'm able to see things extremely well if they are very close.

Staring at the tiny world in front of me I appreciated the Seussian beauty of the bright green moss tufts. I marveled at the myriad shapes and types of lichen and then..."Ah, there you are!" I'd found what I was looking for! Peering at me shyly from between the cracks in the Oak tree's bark was an incredibly tiny mushroom. We're talking about 1/16"(1.59mm) here. I smiled warmly at the little woodland fairy and soon I found others nearby, some a little larger, others not bigger than the letter "o" in this sentence. These mushrooms are so very small that it's no wonder I'd missed seeing them until just a few years ago. I whispered that I'd be back and slipped quietly away.

This afternoon I returned with my camera and macro flash. I spent an hour exploring the tiny worlds I found on each tree and on branches that had fallen to the ground. So many surprises awaited me! It was such fun. In the end I got many wonderful pictures that I hope to share with you as time permits.

Today's photo shows one of the "micro-mushrooms" that posed so nicely for me and behind it you'll see a pair of others faded into bokeh. I hope you like this glimpse of the magical lands and its little fairies that I photographed today!

Pam, I took you with me on my photo outing today and I pictured you staring at the bark and branches, finding treasures of your own. How fun it would be to run over to see each other's finds and figure out how best to get a picture that showed what we loved about the subject. It will be fun to see your pictures again my dear! For now, this little fairy mushroom is waving hello to you!

Explored on 12/16/18, highest placement, #2.

Pictures for Pam, Day 35: Mushroom Couple

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 00:25:58 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Today while I was on my daily walk, Steve stepped out in his fluffy blue robe and thick warm slippers to say good morning--he usually gets up an hour later because he's got the "sleeping in" thing down to a luxuriant science! Huzzah!

At a chilly 31 degrees, no way was he stepping off the porch so I marched over to greet him with a hug and kiss.

"ACK!!!" He yelled, reeling back from my affectionate peck. "Your lips are frozen, woman!" I couldn't stop laughing as I gave him a hug. He pulled me tight in an affectionate embrace and then shrieked, "OH MY GOD, you're an ICEBERG!" He rubbed my back bravely but quickly stepped away with a shudder, staring with abject horror. Receding towards the door with a slightly terrified expression on his face, he left me with, "I'm going back into the house where it's warm!" My maniacal giggling followed him as he shut the door. Gee whiz, I've repulsed my own husband! :D

And now, let us all bow our heads and take this moment of silence to remember Triangle Man.

The other day I posted an image of two lovely mushrooms that I discovered on my way up to our ridgeline trail. At the time I noticed a couple of smaller ones erupting from the earth nearby. In the following days I kept an eye on them but apparently something else was too. In fact, the day after I'd photographed the pair of mushrooms I found one of them laying upside-down nearby and the other one was just plain gone! A few days later, one of the mushrooms I'd been keeping track of disappeared. That left Triangle Man. Oddly shaped with a perfect, rounded-triangle cap, I watched this mushroom slowly force its way up from the soil and grow in size. Yesterday I saw him and burst into song!

"Triangle Man, Triangle Man,
Triangle Man hates Particle Man
They have a fight, Triangle wins
Triangle Man"
~ Lyrics from Particle Man, by They Might Be Giants (This is such a fun song that I linked it…ENJOY!!)

I thought about taking pictures of Triangle Man but decided against it. The grass was very long in that area and to prep for a picture would have taken too long to be bothered. I decided that instead I would appreciate this fun-looking fungus every day as I walked up and down the driveway. At last he was rising up off the ground and I thought that maybe I would take his picture after all. What's 20 minutes of prepping? Triangle Man was worth it! I planned to take his picture that day but it began to rain and didn't stop all day.

This morning Triangle Man was gone. I looked around to see if he might be hiding under a leaf but he was nowhere to be found. Poor Triangle Man. Rudely plucked from the earth and wolfed down by a denizen of the night. His chance at an immortal photograph was dashed. Oh, the cruel, cruel world! We loved you Triangle Man!

Since I can't show a picture of Triangle Man, I thought it would be appropriate to share another mushroom picture. This photogenic pair was found a few days ago when I took a walk along the ridgeline trail that runs from our property about a mile away where it peters out. It's a mecca for plants and animals, ever-brimming with photo opportunities. These two were spotted on an Oak stick that fell to the forest floor and was partially covered with leaves. Only when I kneeled down to peer carefully at ground-level did I spot these extremely tiny mushrooms. They are only about ¼" in height! What an awesome find!

Pam, I invite you to listen to the song, "Particle Man," which is sure to put a beaming smile on your face while you think about the mushrooms you've seen in your wanderings that are gone the next time you come around. We were so lucky to see them! I'm looking out the window now and thinking of you as I watch the mist drift slowly past the Upper Table Rock. Beautiful...just like you.

Explored on 12/14/18, highest placement, #6.

Pictures for Pam, Day 30: Mushroom Pair

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 04:34:37 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

(1 inset picture)

The morning fog made its way through our valley and then gradually dissipated, leaving a bright and beautiful day ahead of me. Walking up and down our road for my daily exercise, I kept looking up at our steep hillside, thinking about the ridge line trail. I wouldn't go up there for a couple of reasons. Partly because, by the time I got up to the top of the hill, I was miserably depressed over the sight of the countless dead trees. The other part was because I used to go up there with our Basset and Boxer, Moosie and Zoey. But a year ago we lost our dear Moosie, and our darling Zoey passed away in August. Our hearts have been broken by this horrible loss and walking along the ridge line was just too much.

Since discovering that the hillside is covered with new saplings and young plants of all sorts, I feel like I can deal with the memories of Moosie and Zoey if I go up there for a stroll. The happy realization had me wiggling with excitement because I haven't been up there for over a year. It was time for a macro photo safari!!

After lunch I popped into my boots and knee pads, packed my macro flash in my backpack, grabbed my camera and off I went! Up to the top I climbed and stood by my favorite tree, the Madrone which was now ringed with vibrant new growth. I turned to look down at our house and the valley below and realized that Moosie and Zoey wouldn't want me to feel sad. They'd want me to have a great time up here, just like they did when we came up here together.

Such silly dogs! They'd chase each other all over and I'd have to keep telling Moosie to come along because he was such a slave to that nose of his. Seeing him trotting jauntily along the trail, his ears flopping back and forth, never failed to make me laugh. With her energetic puppy personality, Zoey was always joyfully running around investigating everything but made sure to stay close to Moosie or me. It was always a good time when we went and all of us would sleep well that night! :) (I have included an inset picture which I took of Moosie and Zoe playing on the ridge line trail.)

I strolled along the path and had a great time. The Oak, Madrone and pine forest was so pretty—rarely visited by people, it's a wonderfully wild place. It was also perfect mushroom weather—humid and cool with moist soil—and I soon spotted a tiny little guy just waiting for the lime light! I spent the next hour or two discovering and photographing lots of tiny mushrooms before the sun grew heavy on the horizon and prompted me to go home. It had been a super experience and after I got home and told Steve about my trip, he asked me to take him up there so he could take pictures too! Moosie and Zoey would be so proud! :)

Today's picture was actually taken a few days ago when I went up on the hillside the first time. On my way up I found this darling pair of mushrooms, and ever since I've been thinking about the mushrooms along the ridge line trail. Although I got plenty of nice pictures on my walk today, I figured it would be perfect to share this pair as my first mushroom picture since getting my creative mojo back!

Pam, you would love the ridge line trail. It's hard to get up to the top of the hill, but I know you would enjoy meandering along the fire trail which is brimming with lovely woods all around. I imagine you oohing and ahhing over the endless beauty there. I thought about you a lot, and how thankful I am to you for bringing back my creative spirit and the courage to face things that hurt me...now I can visit our hill and the ridge line trail too! *huggggs*

Explored on 12/9/18, highest placement, #5.

Darling Spring Mushroom

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 20:05:10 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

I haven't picked up my camera in months so I thought I'd go out today and see if I could find something nice to post. This adorable little mushroom was bouncing up and and down in the grass with excitement to be my Picture of the Day! <3

Explored on 4/10/18. Highest placement: #29

Note: I am so delighted by all of the wonderful responses and views/favorites of my picture. Thanks for making me feel so welcome everyone! :)

318/366: Shallow Focus Fungus

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 04:58:36 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

To me, there is something very cool about using a shallow depth of field for capturing certain subjects. It pulls the viewers in and forces them to look at a tiny part of the image, precisely because it's usually the only area in focus. In this case, there are two things in focus: the edge of the mushroom cap, and a blade of grass. The grass gives an indication of the mushroom's size, which is quite tiny. The edge of the mushroom reveals a fascinating amount of detail--the surface of the cap has both texture and a gloss which may be from dew or generated by the mushroom itself. The gills look a bit like teeth, and make us want to see underneath! This point of view makes it easy to think about what it might be like to be that small and in turn, this is amazing because it's such a JUNGLE! I always love the opportunity to capture a scene which will hopefully invoke thought and wonder! :)

290/366: Stripey Mushroom

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 04:01:42 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Creeping around on our property one day a few years ago, I found this beautiful mushroom with a stripey cap!

277/366: Wee Mushroom Looking at its World

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 04:25:23 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Walking through our upper forest one day a few years ago, I noticed a tiny mushroom looking out over the valley below. I crept up close to take this picture and then the two of us shared the moment to admire our beautiful world. Being careful not to disturb my little friend, I tiptoed away with a content smile on my face.

266/366: Goldfish Tail...No...Orange Jelly Fungus!

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 06:36:01 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Here is something different! This is called Orange Jelly Fungus, and it grows on moist logs and decaying matter. They often look a bit like little jelly candy, and I thought this one looks like a goldfish's tail!

255/366: Mushroom and Droplet

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 03:29:01 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

On a rainy Halloween morning in 2013, I took a stroll through our lower forest and discovered this lovely lass peeking out shyly from under a log. She avoided most of the rain except for the droplet on her stem, now just about to fall!

Explored on 9/15/16, highest placement #64.

249/366: Stout Little Mushroom

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 03:44:43 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Here's a little cutie I found in November of 2013 while mushroom hunting in our lower forest. This fellow looked very bold and brave, standing as tall as he could, and almost seems to say, "HALT! WHO GOES THERE!!" :)

243/366: Impossibly Tiny Snail in Mini Fungus Forest

nobody@ipernity.com (Janet Brien) — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 03:48:56 +0000

Janet Brien has posted:

Some day, if you find yourself walking through a moist, cool forest, take a moment to carefully peek under the bark and logs along the way. You never know what you'll find.

Under a moist piece of rotted log, I found a tiny world. So small that it appeared to be hundreds of period-sized dots, I lay the bark down so I could take pictures with my macro lens. Staring nose-close with my "micro vision" so I could see what I was looking at, I gasped in surprise when I found an itty-bitty snail among a forest of miniature mushrooms. Incredible!!