That Day!

This is the second crop of mushrooms to grow on this ash stump this summer. A totally different species. INaturalist calls it Wolf's Milk.

It was "that day" in our little woods yesterday. The day when multitudes of different mushrooms emerge. Sometimes "that day" is in September.

There were Shaggy Ink Caps in various states of decay. I checked with INaturalist and they had some interesting facts about Shaggy Ink Caps: "Coprinus comatus, commonly known as the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane, is a species of fungus. The young fruit bodies first appear as white cylinders emerging from the ground, then the bell-shaped caps open out. The white caps are covered with scales, the origin of its common names. The gills beneath the cap are white, then pink, then turn black. This mushroom is unusual because it will turn black and dissolve itself in a matter of hours after being picked or depositing spores."

What a short lifespan. It dissolves itself in a matter of hours

INaturalist says that this is also an ink cap.

Beauty in decay. Notice the little necklaces on this group. It's the remainder of the veil that covered the gills as they were forming. Isn't that amazing?

It's nice to see a bit of colour.

Too soon colour will be gone from our backyard....

..... except for the Red Jewel Crabapples. They will be carrying the colour torch all winter.