As usual, it's wet, windy, and rainy here in England. Luckily, the rain stopped later today, and I managed to go on a little venture to the woods.
Some areas of the road are flooded. I somewhat enjoyed paddling, like a carefree child who's been freed out of the room. Well, we can grow old, but we don't need to act like it, am I right? Or wrong? Perhaps it depends.
Anyway, I entered the woods. I wasn't expecting to see any mushrooms, although my eyes were all over the place scrutinizing everything.
Then, the first thing I saw was what I thought was a puffball, but it was a tennis ball! A little disappointing.
So, I walked further and nearly wanted to give up looking.
I sat in the woods, thinking I would just chill there for a bit and enjoy being with nature. It was very tranquil, enjoying the inner peace.
Then I carried on looking and found the usual woodears that grow all year round. They were growing on a dying tree supported between two living trees.
They are pristine.
With loads of them growing underneath the bark.
And more wood ears.
Luckily, I had a paper container I made in my pocket. I wasn't ready to pick, so I didn't have a basket.
I picked the big ones; my gosh, it felt like I was pulling someone's ears :)
The crafted container came in handy, and I almost filled it.
Then I found an old puffball still attached to the tree stump. It is called Pear-shaped puffball ( Lycoperdon pyriforme), it is edible, best picked when young.
From far away, I saw a vibrant yellow orange; it was a witches' butter, with a gelatinous, jelly-like appearance. Its name is purely based on folklore; the slimy, mysterious appearance of this fungus might have led people to believe it was connected to witches or magic. Long ago, anything mysterious or unusual in nature was often attributed to witchcraft or supernatural phenomena.
Then I walked further, but I was blocked by a large tree lying on the ground, with something growing on it.
I nearly picked one, thinking it was woodears, but its furry look and its curling up instead of down stopped me. It was a hairy-looking fungus; I never wanted hairy ears! It gave me a bit of a twitch.
It is a tripe fungus (Auricularia mesenterica), the inedible relative of woodears (Auricularia auricula-judae).
Some little oyster-looking mushrooms were growing on the dead twigs: Variable Oysterlings - Crepidotus variabilis.
and the cutest find, common laccaria, belong to family of deceivers.
Then I spotted this tiny, bright orange fungus that seemed to be almost staining its surroundings with its vivid hue. It is possibly the Atheliachaete sanguinea. I haven't found much information about it, but its discovery is delightful, even if its exact species remains somewhat mysterious. Surrounding it were coral-like mushrooms called Pterula Multifida.
With eyes satisfied and heart fulfilled, the darkness approaching, the short sun disappearing, it was time to make my way back home.
The road remained flooded, I walked back quickly before dark. With my crafted container full of mushrooms, soul content.
A beautiful day to everyone!
Mariah 😊
My contribution to #FungiFriday by 
(all photos and words are my own)