.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Some fungus among us

With about 5” of rain in the last week, spring is marching on, and more than wildflowers are popping up.

57 MS Sandhill Crane NWR17

All that rain has brought out some early mushrooms.  I think all of the mushrooms above are of the same variety.  They’re just in different stages of development.

IMG_9604

One huge mushroom has emerged in the circle surrounding the mailboxes.  This beauty is about 6” in diameter.

IMG_9609 IMG_9610

I wanted to get a picture of it before some kid came around and gave it a good kick.  It’s about three times the size of the other mushrooms.  I assume all mushrooms are poisonous unless they’re morels.  Smile  What I wouldn’t give for a nice batch of morels fried up in butter this spring.  I think I’m too far south to find any here.  Maybe on my trip north in May I’ll encounter some.  That would be deliciousoso!

IMG_9631 IMG_9633

I did encounter another new wildflower beginning to bloom along the roadside.  I don’t know what it is, but I may be learning that in the near future.  My latest assignment has been determined.  It entails walking the four refuge trails weekly to document (with pictures) what different flowers are blooming each week.  The plan is to develop a wildflower plant guide for each trail by season.  We’re thinking some kind of flip chart with pictures of the flowers for visitor’s to use while hiking the trails.  So, now I’m forced to hike the four trails each week, at my leisure, and do photography.  You know the saying…Rough work, but somebody has to do it!  Who me?

IMG_9216

Do you remember when I got the assignment to clean up the so called garden area in front of the bunkhouse?

IMG_9626 IMG_9627

Well, this is what it looks like now with the black fabric cover nailed down by Denny and me today to inhibit plant growth.  All that remains is for some of the younger staff to haul the gravel over to cover this area.  Those piles on the right are all the stuff I dug out with a shovel, one wheelbarrow at a time!  Talk about manual labor!  I am happy to be done with this chore.  But, as I’ve said before, it sure beats office work for   me.

 

I think I’ll take Emma with me tomorrow and survey one of those trails.  The one I have planned is a new one for me, so it should be interesting.

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

17 comments:

  1. Hi Judy. Thanks for stopping by my NZ Diary and leaving a comment. I think this is my first visit to yours. I'll follow now. I'm trying not to add any more to my reader list but couldn't resist yours.

    Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a bummer, having to walk trails and take pictures of flowers. I don't know how you can stand it! ;c)

    The bunkhouse looks good, amazing how many wheelbarrows full of debris you took out of there. I hope they appreciate all you're doing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The only thing worse is if they wanted you to photograph birds!

    Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tough job. Hope it doesn't put you off volunteering! I can hardly wait to see the pictures as you take them. I've learned so much about birds and now I get to learn about flowers. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I want to know the camera you use? Your pics are great -- I'm not a very good photographer, or maybe it's my camera:) You moved a lot of dirt with a shovel & wheelbarrow...my back would be killing me:(

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aren't fungi interesting? They really fascinate me.

    I couldn't do that physical labor as you are! Oh, I wold if I had to, but only at a price. I'm just not that strong anymore. Good for you!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good job with all the earth-moving. The bunkhouse looks much better even without the gravel installed yet. I'm happy that you are happy about your new wildflower identification project. And we'll all get to see the wildflowers too, I'm hoping!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice job cleaning up the “garden”. After moving all of the dirt, I think hiking trails and taking pictures of flowers is well deserved. Here in SC we have the small purple flowers coming out as well (possibly a violet) and yesterday I noticed a little yellow flower starting to show up throughout the woods.

    John
    relaxedrush.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would enjoy photographing the flowers & birds for sure & that wheelbarrowing dirt is right up my alley too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your area looks great now!..I can't wait to get some dirt under my fingernails....Yesterday I bought some seed potatos and onions for our garden...Ya have to get the taters in early...Last year was the first year we grew them and they were fabulous!!
    Yeah, your job gets rougher everyday!!:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. WOW, that flower bed looks so much better. You sure have been busy.

    Love all the pictures that you post. You seem to have a good photo eye.

    Travel Safe
    Dawn and Denise

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh my! All that removed dirt looks like too much of a 4-letter word, WORK!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nice job. Great looking mushroom photos too and it's probably a good thing not to eat them either.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mushrooms and flowers, spring really is coming!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great pictures, I thought for a moment your topic was referring to some of us dedicated readers:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love hunting morels, Donnie loves eating them. Haven't had any since we started full timing. Heard there is a thing going on at the Shed tomorrow evening. Think we will be able to get in? He said the food is really good. Your yard work looks great... :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm glad you're done with that job too!

    ReplyDelete