Mushroom Mysteries

I found this gorgeous mushroom on a walk through the woods ...
Then I found another, and another - a whole patch of about 6 or 8! Most were taller than the one shown in this picture.

They look like morels. They look like false morels.
According to my book "Mushrooms of North America" by Orson K. Miller, Jr - these beauties could be a type of morel called "Morchella Semilibera".

They could also be one of the many false morels and, according to the book, there is much confusion between the (related) species. In fact, it goes on to say "the chance for error is great. in addition, many people are adversely affected by some of the edible species."

I will continue to buy my mushrooms at the grocery store, thank you very much! I will leave these beautiful wild ones alone - to grow again - next spring.

The Well Dressed Mushroom

Dressed for winter,
Deep in the woods.

A fashion display
of leafy cloak.

Nature's Perfection

A perfectly landscaped lawn and flower beds surround the VA Clinic building in Hillsboro. I could find no pictures begging to be taken - everything seemed to be too perfect, too sculpted, too fake.
Until I saw this beautiful mushroom, tucked away in a corner of the manicured lawn.
Now THIS is perfection!!!

Further down the street, in a little sculpted "wetlands" area, I spied this wonderful face on an old dead tree. I had to turn the picture upside down, but ain't he cute???

Mushroom ... Over Easy!

This awesome mushroom caught my eye, not because of its beauty (which it has in abundance) but because of its uncanny resemblance to an egg, over easy! Hey, isn't it near breakfast time now? I think I might have to have ...

Cereal?

Aging Beautifully

I found this mushroom on an old piece of plywood, forgotten and left to the elements. The mushroom is clearly past it's prime and won't be around very much longer ... but still a remarkably beautiful creation.

Mushroom Flower

Doesn't this mushroom look like a beautiful flower?

Mushroom Stays Warm

We have been experiencing some extremely cold nights here lately. I found that mushrooms don't like the cold, and disappear as quickly as they spring up. This delightful little guy has certainly picked the right place to grow -- shrouded and kept warm by fallen fir twigs and battered blackberry leaves ...

Have a Nice Day!

It speaks for itself!