• Wednesday-What'sUP November 4 - 08:40 am

When looking around the Pasty Guest Gallery photo albums to find some interesting fall photos, I stumbled upon Brenda Leigh's collection of various fungi she found around the U.P. What an interesting bunch she took photos of, starting with this piggyback pair, latched onto a tree. I've seen a number of mushrooms growing on trees, but I can't say I've ever spotted one like this...very interesting. Brenda's next specimen seems to have sprouted amongst some fallen leaves and actually looks like it could be a golf ball sitting there, ready to be driven across a fairway. The last two shots are the most unique looking mushrooms, I do believe. At first glance it looks like it could be some coral from the ocean, but these spiky looking fungi have settled themselves amongst fallen pine needles and branches on the forest floor.

I haven't attempted to identify any of these, as I wouldn't know where to begin. If you can help us out with some names and whether they're an edible variety or not, feel free to jump in. In the meantime, let's assume these guys are all of the "not edible" kind, until we find out different. Better safe, than sorry.

This is only a sampling of the mushroom shots that can be found over in Brenda's gallery, so if you'd like to see more, here's a link to get there: Brenda's mushroom collection.

Mushrooms: Taste great, less filling...........

I am not an authority on Mushrooms. Even people that are make mistakes. Mushroom toxcity builds up in our system so what may be eaten one day without trouble can be a killer the next time. There is no cure for most forms of mushroom toxcity. Once you know you are sick the doctors can only wait and hope. There are many variety of the Coral like ones. I have eaten a few but not these white colored ones. The puffy one looks like it could be danger. There is a type that fools people to believe it is a "puff ball" but if you cut it open you can see the shape of the mature deadly form inside. The top "toad stool" type are even tougher to be sure as variations are so common. Mushrooms and toad stools are fun to see in their habitat but I would not eat any without an expert on hand (not just a picture. Wonderful photos.

On my wife and mine honeymoon trip we stopped at Hungarian falls. The maple woods ground was covered by "beef Steak" literally 1 to 2 feet apart for the 2 acres we could see from the R.R. grade. Some people eat these. Some people die from these. I will not take the chance. Especially when someone says "they are fine just don't eat many at a time"

Wow…nice photography! These are examples of nature's artistic beauty.

The puffy one is really a teed up ball on the golf course? The two on a tree, mother and child? I like them all - to look at!

Mushroom, bacon cheeseburger.

Cool pics. Very interesting.

Then there's the UP's very own Humungus [sic] Fungus — the largest mushroom (fungus) in the world!

Im with Janie on the mushrooms & bacon, one question, swiss, american, pepper, or cheddar cheese? lol

Uncle Chuck...all of the above!

Interesting. I like the 1 with the maple leaf next 2 the fungi.

I would have tried to identify those for everyone, but I'm told I'm not a very fungi.... J

We are in Alamosa, CO tonight. The Dr. and I enjoyed crystal clear skies as we drove out of Denver into the mountains today, seeing such sites as Georgetown, Silver Plume, Loveland Pass, and Leadville. Tomorrow we plan to visit Great Sand Dunes NP and then head into New Mexico through Taos and Santa Fe before stopping in Socorro for the night.

I took some pictures of a 'fungi' growing out of birch trees. They look just like a bell. Took some good pictures of some by the waterworks.