Wordless Wednesdays--the fungi edition

OK--I confess. I was walking up to the garden to weed--not necessarily my favorite thing to do--but sometimes all too necessary, when I noticed the mushrooms growing on the tree stump. Now I have no idea what they are. The tree stump has been there for years--probably a pine tree though I am not sure by now. And the mushrooms--or maybe they are some other fungi appear regularly. I always look forward to seeing them. So ornate they look like a wild tropical flower. A story for a children's book. Every year I stop. Every year the shapes are so different. Bowls or vases. Flowers.

Aren't they wonderful? Like the skirts of a can-can dancer flaring up with the swirls and kicks. Or maybe a daffodil from some other world?

Then I look and see another mushrooms. What strange little markings on its top. What are they? Does it even matter? Hmmm.

On the garden path I notice more mushrooms that look a daisy made of wood. So much detail in each one.  A happy form of anemone?

OK--this is getting fun. So much for the weeding. That can happen tomorrow--right? A darling little mushroom in the grass--so dainty I almost miss it.

The pleats on this one--modern and perfect. Yes, this one would almost make a nice white on white quilt, wouldn't it? (You see I never go very long without thinking about quilts do I?)

I see one so dainty and poised it seems to stretch forever.

What fun this was. Could I find one more before I headed to the studio? I walked in the woods. Yes, where I remembered them. The haunting white of the Indian pipe. At least that is what I call it.

I always hope to find them at least once a year. And then it was time to head down the hill. But what a nice morning it was. Certainly I don't know anything about mushrooms or any other fungi--and would never ever dream of eating them unless I had a well-qualified guide--but there is something about just searching for the different shapes and sizes of these mushrooms that made the morning so magical and complete. Have you ever done this?