The other day I grabbed my camera and headed off to see what I could find in my yard and woods. We’ve had so much rain lately that I was hoping to find to find a few interesting things.

In the woods in back of my house I found a few fungusy-mushroomy things. Like this coral mushroom. I’m pretty sure it’s Jellied False Coral. My book says it’s edible, but I think I’ll pass. Can you see why it’s called a coral mushroom?

And these that were growing on a log. I can’t identify the species but I think they are pretty.

I came across this group of Indian Pipe Plants. To me they seem to be members of a dance troupe working out a piece of very complex choreography, albeit a somewhat ghostly one.

Next I focused my attention on what flowers are blooming in the beds. I came across this spider napping. See how he’s holding on to the leaf with his leg?

Bee balm up close and personal.

I don’t know what these flowers are. Maybe bellflowers? It’s the same type of flower that the spider is napping on, just that this one is fully opened.

And this little beauty growing wild in the front yard. It resembles the Pipsissewa  (or Prince’s Pine) that we have in Colorado only this one is white.

And lastly, this strange bug that has been camped out on the same bee balm flower for about three days now. Even after the rain the other night he reappeared. It’s amazing what you see when you are using a macro lens!

He seemed to be studying me and trying to figure out what that big black thing is that is staring him in the face. Should he eat it? Maybe not ...

All this and I never had to leave the confines of my own property. Pretty amazing isn’t it? I plan to take a walk down to the pond, maybe this morning, and see what I can find in the “real” woods.

Edited to add: I think the Pipsissewa is also known as Swamp Pyrola and perhaps not Prince’s Pine.

You take the most amazing photos.  I want to print and frame half the pictures from your blog!
I miss Jersey, It’s so green out there.  It’s just not the same here in CO.  Although we have had a very wet year, so it’s a little greener then usual.  We haven’t made it to the mountains yet this summer, with the baby being born in April, we haven’t done much!  We are headed to Estes Park for some “Mommy and Daddy time” next weekend though, can’t wait to get out there.

Beautiful! I love the Daddy long-legs napping. Haven’t seen one of them in years! That coral mushroom is amazing!

Hey Katie and Jess. You are both ex-Jersey girls you know! How funny you should comment together.

Katie, thanks for the compliment on the photos. Most people think I take photos of boring things. Enjoy your time in Estes—it’s really pretty up there!

Jess, this year we have so many Daddy-long-legs it’s crazy. They are everywhere. We had our deck painted and the painter was complaining that every time he dipped his brush in the paint can there was another Daddy-long-legs!

What terrific photos! More, please!

I love the flowers and bugs photos!  The mushrooms are fascinating, too.  I always wonder who, back in the day, said to themselves, “this looks tasty, I think I’ll eat it” about mushrooms.  They are tasty, but very strange looking!

You can stay in your own yard and see BEARS!  THAT is amazing! That flower, I think, is a balloon flower