Why I Am No Mycological Expert

 
Here's a pretty little orange mushroom. Looks like it would be easy to ID, right?



Ha! OK, it's either Jack-O-Lantern (definitely poisonous), or Red Chanterelle (highly edible), or a False Chanterelle (not really poisonous, but not great to eat). Well, that info doesn't help one little bit.

Size- these ones were about 1.5 to 2 inches across. Not huge, which seems to suggest not Jack-O-Lantern. Location- growing from the ground (not on dead wood or from tree roots or stumps), same suggestion as above.

Gills- I did remember to take a picture. It does not help much. The gills extend down the stalk, called decurrent. General shape- starts flatish, becomes funnel shaped with downcurved edges. All of the choices are ditto.



Here's a difference. The chanterelle gills are forked. Let's look closer. I see those forks! That pretty much eliminates the Jack-O-Lantern.



Now, what about the False Chanterelle? The main difference (except the color of the spore print which I simply can't be bothered to deal with... collecting samples, labeling, bringing home, drying, placing on light and dark paper, waiting... see I care more about plant ID than fungus) is that the false one has many branches in the gills.

The true Chanterelle has blunter edges on the gills and the base of the stalk can be white to yellowish. Seems right. But the false one is broader at the base, which fits this one. Of course any of these things could have an exception on one sample.

My best guess is Red Chanterelle, Cantharellus cinnabarinus. Am I certain enough to eat it? Not on your life.

The book says ID of Red Chanterelle is fairly easy. Well, I think I'd want more samples confirmed by an expert. Experience is a great teacher, and I'm sorely lacking in this field.

	See Nestcap Fungus
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Howe Lake

 
Here's a little lake near Luther, Michigan. It's really not much more than a pond. Howe Lake. But the road curves around it and there always seems to be something pretty to see when I drive by, so I have to stop to take pictures.



The first hints of autumn color are beginning. Seems a little later than usual, but we haven't been too dry. That keeps things green.



Details always grab my eye. The cornflower blue of the water really had my attention.



And a reflected sunken log turned into chevrons defining the edge of another reflection.



Howe Lake showed up once before, in the last photo of My Favorite Sandwiches.

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Same and Different

 
I'm always fascinated by the textures of water surfaces in different lights. I can let my eyes unfocus and see the patterns shifting and swirling, the colors weaving in and out. Yet it's so hard to capture that with a camera. Our brains must do some editing on the raw data.

But here are two attempts at sharing the moods of Pentwater Lake with you.





Ready to call it a day. Tomorrow is work.

	See Ripple-y
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Full Size or Miniature?

 
Went for a short walk today on the North Country Trail north of Timber Creek. Do you prefer your forest full size?



or miniature?



Timber Creek Trailhead US 10, north out and back, Lake County, MI

	See Almost Good Timing at Timber Creek
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More Fun! What, Me Work?

 
Just call me Maynard G. Krebs. And if you are old enough to understand this joke, you'll know how young we are. Today after church I headed for Pentwater to spend time with Loretta, GayLynne and Paula. Loretta leaves to go home in the morning. So sad.

We sure do have fun when she's here.



Lunch, fooling around, games, and watching the sunset over Pentwater Lake. Mighty fine.







What, you don't think we were having enough fun? OK, how about this?

	See "New" Friends
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