One of my favorite subjects to photograph is mushrooms. I just find all of them beautiful even in the midst of decay. The puffball starts out pure white. Over time, the decay starts to set in creating the signs of decay with various colors.
“The sudden appearance of mushrooms
after a summer rain is one of the more
impressive spectacles of the plant world”
~John Tyler Bonner~
In Michigan, the end of summer rainy days allows for the arrival of vast amounts of mushrooms all over the woodland floor. Bringing a sense of fascination and wonder, I spend a large amount of time photographing each one. I am slowly going to try to identify each one. I cannot guarantee I will find the correct name for each kind, but I am willing to try. The colors range from a purest white to a deep red. Some mushrooms seem to appear out of nowhere only to be gone before the next day.
The colors of the mushrooms range from a purest white to a deep red. They seem to come in all shapes and sizes; each unique in their own way. Some mushrooms just seem to appear out of nowhere only to be gone before the next day. I would love to attend a course just on identifying Michigan mushrooms.
Of course, I use the different photos of the mushrooms as inspiration for writing about fairy worlds.
Until next time….peace
So what does a person do when a swarming black mass appears in the water? Go investigate. Watching the mass move and divide was fascinating. They would move apart and slowly come back together. The mass would swim in formation for a short time. Then, dividing to start the entire process over again.
So of course, I had to get closer to figure out what was forming the swimming, swarming mass.
When viewing wildlife, I tend to move forward without thinking. During this specific time, I learned two valuable lessons.
After all the years of wandering around in the woods, you would think I would have this engrained in my brain. But…sadly no, the nettles seem extra itchy this time of year. The nettles were waist high. Well, I am short, so maybe they were not as high as I thought.
Once again, you would think I would remember this fact too. The grass and mud on the side of the bank were an issue for about a second. I believe I recovered nicely; I did not fall all the way down, get wet or lose the grip on my camera. Wearing hiking boots really should be my priority.
The Black Swimming Swarm
When I finally was close enough, I realized the black swarm swimming in different directions was baby bullheads. I am certain the little black bullheads have a proper name. Sitting on the side of the creek bank, I was mesmerized by the swimming flow of the hundreds of baby bullheads.
Until next time….peace
“I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful-
an endless prospect of magic and wonder”
Ansel Adams
I was out walking around the backfield when I came across this young doe standing in the middle of the Queen’s Anne. The little fawn still has spots. I truly hope she grows more before the Michigan winter sets in.
Until next time…..peace
Wandering around the wooded, marshy area, I came across a unique turtle. From my research, I believe the turtle is a Blanding’s Turtle. I am still researching the endangered turtle. As I find more information, I will share.
Until next time….peace
Living in a rural community, I often view houses and other structures giving away to natural decay. I understand as estates go on the market, local farmers take the opportunity to purchase the large pieces of land. The extra acres allows for the planting of additional crops which in turn increases profits.
Even with the knowledge, I find the state of abandonment both sad and inspiriting. Imagining the previous owners through the decades, my curiosity always turns to stories. The farm houses make me think about large families surviving through the Michigan changing seasons. Other large grand estates make me wonder about holiday parties or fancy affairs. The deteriorating estates are still bringing a sense of worth through my own creative musings.
I am use to people not wanting to smile for photos. In fact over the weekend, I photographed a gorgeous outdoor wedding. I think I told people to smile half the day. Well, not the bride and groom, they were grinning from ear to ear as their beautiful day unfolded. Every time, I mentioned the word smile, the person I was photographing instantly grinned which made the day easier for me.
Now, I could be imagining things. But this bird looked like he (or she) did not want me to take a picture. I can’t really tell a bird to smile. Can I?
Until next time….peace
I know this is a common weed around here. But I find the thistle to be uniquely beautiful. I always get helpful suggestions that I should cut them down along the edge of the property. In my opinion, the flowering thistle is not harming anyone. I know the bees like them. So I just leave the plant alone.
Until next time….peace
In mid-Michigan, the last couple of days has been warm. I mean, the state is being declared a moderate drought zone. Now normally, I don’t mind the heat. But, the added humidity just seems to drain all my energy. So, I have been rather….lazy. Well, lazy for me.
Spending most of my days indoors with the comfort of the fans. I don’t have air conditioning which is an investment I may have to make at some point. I have managed to catch up on some social media networking and writing. And, I even picked up a book for some afternoon reading. So, I guess the warmer days have some benefits. I don’t really want to complain. Because I know in a few months, we will have snow.
But toward the evening hours, I tend to wander outdoors. The one aspect I have noticed, the wildlife seem to be having lazy summer days too. The bullfrogs float in the shallow water along the creek bed’s edge.
I have spotted turtles just lazily floating along. Diving down for a quick cool off and coming back up to the surface to float again.
The forecast is calling for continuous warm days with a chance for a rain shower at some point. I am absolutely convinced if a rain shower occurs, I will be outdoors standing in the middle of the downpour.
Until next time…..peace
When I am out walking, my mind tends to wander. I wonder what lives in the hollow of the trees, under the lily pads, and beneath the natural debris on the woodland floor. I photograph different areas to use as inspiration for my stories.
Earlier I watched lily pads move in the opposite direction of the wind. I, of course, imagined water fairies playing or gnomes skipping along the large leaves. In reality, the lily pads were moving along due to five little baby ducks swimming around underneath.
I assume the little ducks were hiding from predators. Or perhaps, they were just trying to get some shade from the hot afternoon sun. In any case, I really enjoyed spending time watching the little ducks swim between the lily pads.
Anyways, the little ducks provided me with the inspiration I needed to continue working on my book.
Until next time….peace
Rebecca's Vintage and Wildlife Photography 