Fungus for Ducklover

As requested, here is one of the first shelf fungus I could find around the farm to share with you, along with some other pretty orange fungus. These are dedicated to Ducklover.

I wish I could tell you more about who they are or what they like, but all I can tell you for certain is that like many other beautiful fungus, these are happily growing on a pile of old, rotting firewood in the brush.

I’ll be certain to keep my eyes open for more fungus as I explore the area. At home in Seabeck, Washington, Spring and Autumn were some of the greatest seasons to find new fungus of all colors. Perhaps the same is true around Pennsylvania?

Next up: more springtime wonders! C'est magnifique!

The road to recovery is paved with springtime discovery

Greetings Arborealists! I hope that you all had a wonderful week and a fabulous full moon. As for me, I woke up in the dark of Monday morning with a terrible flu! After being unable to do almost anything all week long, I am finally starting to feel semi-normal. And guess what happened while I was sick in bed?

This…

and THIS…

and this…

and these...

and of course, these too...

Yes, while I was sick in bed, Springtime decided to make herself known. And so, with three more days until the Vernal Equinox, here in eastern Pennsylvania we at last see the beginnings of the coming season in the most beautiful of places.

What wonders hide beneath the earth, just waiting for the sun and rain to coax them forth again!

Trees and floral mysteries

This week brought a lovely warm spell to my home, coaxing out the first fresh green leaves on a young tree in the backyard. The bud burst has begun!

While happily trying my best to capture some images of these first leaves for you, I stumbled upon another early springtime wonder: the croci. But they aren’t at all where I expected them to be! I found the purple crocus popping up out of some leaf litter just beside the driveway. The surrounding greenery is some type of ground cover, the name of which I do not yet know.

In the mean time, I have huge patches of swelling flower bulbs just aching to open – and I have no idea what they are. My best guess is that they might be some type of small daffodil. It would be grand if they were hyacinth, but the greens look too short. Then again, at this point, I’d believe ANYTHING is possible! Stay tuned!

Contrasts

Here is this morning’s picture of some croci growing at the feet of the trees. They have reemerged from beneath the snow blanket with admirable fortitude! The sun and clear skies are warm in appearance only – it is literally freezing out there.

The beautiful snow-covered tree you see is situated near the beginning of our winding driveway. This is one of the final images from last weekend’s snowstorm, now but a melted memory.

PS - Trailhead, I looked it up - the dictionary says that the plural of crocus can be written either as crocuses or as croci. The same follows for cactus, and for octopus (one of my FAVORITE animals!). Ok, there's your English lesson for the day folks. :)