Snowflakes

every time it snows

the flakes look different

they fall through the sky differently as well

today they were floating

softly

slowly

landing in piles

today they look like we imagine

when we think of snowflakes

tiny crystalline stars

I do mean tiny, like the size of a sesame seed

~

I put out the red cloth for them to land on

the other photos are taken on my car

we are officially in the season of snow and ice

i love snowflake season

 

~

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Autumn Ice

nights have been freezing

and

so have my ponds

i love the geometrical shapes

like faceted gems

like a dream

gazing through ice

autumn leaves

grace the creeks floor

pond fish

have begun their quiet

hibernation like existence under ice

and today it is snowing
one inch so far

~

*

Tiny Realm of Lichen and Fungi

they call us pixie cups

we are tiny 

and live in the sylvan land

we grow in fanciful shapes

i have been enjoying the tiny realm of

fungi and lichen

they grow on trees

in wonderful colors

on rocks

even the black and gray speckles are lichen!

I look forward to getting to know them better

~

*

A Glimpse of this past Week

autumn colors

 

skies thrilling

mist from cold nights and warm-ish days

First Snow arrived

joy inspiring

 

next day 

a dusting is all that is left of the snow

sunshine greets us with a blue sky

stone paths i make for my grandsons joy

 

 as well as fairy boats made of walnuts and wine corks

(do you have any suggestions for simple fun tiny boats for my ponds and my grandsons?)

today it rains

all in a week

late autumn

~

*

Fairy Barf

thrilling 

how there are endless new things to discover

 

like:

Fairy puke

(a lichen)

now how can they call it that!

I feel concern, the fairies will get mad.

look at that turquoise stuff

it literally coats an entire tree stump

right over the moss and all

then these tiny pink apothecia grow

a wee island of mushrooms

found in a dark wet mossy canyon

beginning to dry out

and 

waves of gills become art

 

another new one to me

Chlorociboria aeruginascens

or 

green elfcup

it is such a joy to find new colors in the woods

as i continue learning about mushrooms

i decided to try a spore print

the black and orange fabric: a table cloth

on top of that is a sheet of plastic

i took a mushroom cap and laid it gill side facing down with a glass jar on top

next day i lifted it

and 

a spore print

wow

so beautiful and even 3-D

spore prints are one of the many ways to help identify which mushroom 

you have found

there won't be many more mushrooms this season 

as days are quite cool and nights freezing now

~

*

Montana Glimpses

some trees have dropped their leaves

a perfect perch for a

Bald Eagle

 

some trees still cloaked in their golds

 

leaves float upon the pond

last night 

was the first night 

that the ponds froze

yesterday

these beautiful flowers celebrating life

in front of the health food store

not sure how many frosts they can exist through

autumn beckons life to sink below the surface of the earth

to rest deeply

till next year

 

I am enjoying the last of autumns

fungal beauty

~

*

DC: Cover

under the cover of shade

and light

a red leaf 

under cover

protection of branches

a mushroom dries

changing form and chemical

to become just right food

for:

the squirrel

sits

under cover of golden Tamarack needles and branches

nearly hidden in shade

eating a dry mushroom

under cover

of the thick forest

a rosy mushroom thrives

bathed in soft evening light

under the cover of clouds

light gently caresses

Autumn

~

Lovely Ariane has hosted DC this weekend 

with the theme: Cover

for me, what is held, covered, protected

came to mind

thank you Ariane

~

*

Fungi Fruiting

violet gills

brilliant green

fabulous together

nearly hidden by autumn debris

wild and wonderful expressions

had to share some autumn foliage

it's a family affair

• ♫♫♫•

so fun to find mushrooms I have never seen

these orange balls were tiny

been finding many in trees

(such good fun)

this has been a colorful autumn!

~

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