Yes, I know. I am stuck taking photos of fungi lately. With all our rain I have to take advantage of seeking them out while they are fresh and new. I can’t help it, I find them fascinating. And so many different varieties. Take a look. (Letty, I promise—no slugs!) When possible I have added their names (no, I didn’t make them up even with some you would think so). Some of them I found just in our own woods in our yard, while other were found in the woods near Green Turtle Pond where I frequently take walks.

These were fresh and new the day after the rain. I haven’t identified them yet.

Crowded Parchment. The first one is older; the second photo shows what it looks like when it first blooms.

Mossy Maple Polypore

Let’s look a little closer at this one. Doesn’t this little one remind you of the creature in Alien?

Looking like some kind of exotic coral formation is Radiating Phlebia.

I don’t have name for this one but I loved how it just kept stacking up on itself. It might be Violet-Toothed Polypore (see second photo). Notice the purplish cast?

Not identified.

 

Unidentified.

 

Unidentified, but I love the grayish-blue colors!

 

Turkey Tails! (for obvious reasons)

 

Orange Jelly. Please don’t spread this on toast!

 

Thin Maze Flat Polypore.

 

Birch Polypore; second photo is how it looks from the bottom.

This one has the unfortunate name of Wolf’s Milk Slime. ewww ...

What did you think? Did you find them fascinating or ugly? I think most people don’t even notice them. If you live in a moist environment where you get quite a bit of rain, why not look around and see if you can find some? Pick a day after you’ve gotten some really good moisture and go hunting!

All these are inedible, so please don’t try to eat any of them. I know, I know—you are all thinking to yourselves as if I would eat anything that looked like that ...

Stay tuned for my next post on some very edible and delicious fungi!