Lovely Lichen and Fabulous Fungi

I love the rain.

I love the way the rain cleans the air and the trees and bushes so that everything looks bright and colorful. This how things should look. And, I love that rain brings mushrooms. This gift might be what I secretly love most about the rain.

We don’t get rain very often here in Southern California so, as soon as the rain stops, we frantically set off into our wild spaces to find fungi. I ‘lichen’ (get it?) myself a little to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Alma as I go off in search of mushrooms. I get quite giddy at the prospect.

The forest was awash with mushrooms today. There were so many and so many dazzling different varieties. The woods were, quite literally, enchanted today.

One day, when I have all the time in the world (and miss my little munchkins with all of my heart) I’m going to learn the names of all the mushrooms I can find. I’m going to become a mushroom expert and travel the world in search of the world’s most delightful fungi. When this comes to pass, I’ll come back to this page and name each of these magnificent specimens. And, by all means, if you know the names of some of these beauties, please start my fungi education by naming them the comments.

Enjoy!

Can you spot the fairy washing line on the moss stalks?Magic mushrooms indeed!

The impossibly fragile grey mushroom (the last photos) is my favorite. It’s like nature’s lace.

Blessings and magic, Donni