A spell of rain, summer heat, and we have steamy weather that signals to fungi to explode.
The first day of sun I walked up the track, feeling sure I’d see some new fungi.
Less than I’d expected, but spectacular enough, for low down on the burnt-black trunks of many of the stringybarks were intense dustings of orange dots.
Moving nearer, I was reminded of the dense colonies of tiny bivalve shells I have seen stuck to rocks on marine rock platforms.
As the individuals were so tiny, I had to go up really close to see their fungi features.
Several sunny days and one wild thunderstorm later, not a dot of orange is to be seen. Talk about living for the moment!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Sharyn,
Like you, I am always hopeful of finding fungi following summer rain. The up-close detail is always fascinating, as your photo shows. Following Christmas rain, I had several fungus species fruiting in various habitats in my yard, and I was thoroughly delighted.
Cheers,
Gaye
Hi Gaye,
Yes, they are as wonderful as wildflowers, only usually more of a surprise! A treat.
Hi Sharyn
I love the transitory nature of most Fungi. Probably why I find those huge old woody Bracket Fungi boring, exccept when they coat themselves with a new skin of soft fur like the “velvet” on a deer’s antler.
Nice little orange scalloped shapes.
Cheers
Denis
‘The best things in life are brief’? Lovely velvety image, Denis!
Ah nature, blink and you miss it!
cheers, Laura.
I find some people are permanently blinkered about the small wonders of nature, Laura – brief or otherwise.
You are so right Sharyn, about people permanently blinkered!
So sad to me and can not imagine life without an awareness of all of Nature’s beauty, large and small around me every day. Love the
Fungi…the color is exquisite!!! Thanks..DWG
We are the lucky ones, DWG. Nature & books – what more could I need?