11.29.2015

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
 
~
*

11.24.2015

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

~
*


11.20.2015

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
~
*




11.09.2015

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

~
*

11.03.2015

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

~
*

10.24.2015

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



~
*

10.16.2015

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
~
*


10.12.2015

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!
~
*