Fly Agaric (amanita muscaria)
Yesterday I was planning on having a quiet afternoon – maybe just organize and clean up after a busy weekend (boring). I don’t know why I thought that because two of my grandchildren are staying with us for a week! Anyway, a neighbor came over with her sweet daughter and asked us to go to the park. We did and we ended up taking a long walk, playing at the park, having a nice visit and then on our way back home we got sidetracked (by my hubby) onto a path leading into our forest. He had discovered these fascinating mushrooms and wanted to show them to us. Well, I sent him home immediately to get my camera (he’s my trusty assistant, after all). I had no idea what type of mushrooms this was and was very careful not to touch them or to let anyone else get near them. Good thing since I’ve since found out that they are ‘fly agaric’ and that they are poisonous! yikes!
Fly agaric is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The quintessential toadstool, it is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, orange, yellow, red or brown mushroom, one of the most recognizable and widely encountered in popular culture (Wikipedia).
I also found this little tidbit from the Museum of Nova Scotia . . . among other things . . fly agaric has been used to invoke inebriation, religious or otherwise, since the Stone Age. Some scholars maintain that the inspirations for some of the major religions of the Near East originate in a fly agaric cult, although in latter days, this fungus has typically been consumed as an escape from everyday drudgery.
Our afternoon had turned into a fun and interesting event. Supper was late but we all felt so refreshed and invigorated. No drudgery here!
Joining in the fun at The Creative Exchange at Lisa Gordon Photography
very pretty! at first they almost looked like sesame seed buns. :)
Wow! Those are some big mushrooms. I like the domed ones, they have that storybook look going :)
Lovely photos and a great adventure Barb.
wow! amazing! we don’t have these kind of mushrooms in Portugal! beautiful shots. I love the way you capture flowers :) and I’m very curious how we convince ourselves that we have no limits. sounds like you know a secret I’ve to learn ;) count me as a follower, he he he.
Poisonous – but beautiful to look at.
Beautiful captures!
They look like they could dance..
maybe they do, in the middle of the night!
I love the last shot where the mushrooms seem to hide in the grass. Great images.
These are some of the most beautiful mushrooms I’ve seen and your photos do them justice!!!
Barb, these are gorgeous mushrooms! I smiled when I see them. For me they are just so unusual.. and I always fancy them because I rarely see them only ate the black ones! Thanks for the trivia as well. Glad you guys had fun. Take care!
Amazing! Real life toadstools! The kids must have LOVED seeing those!
Jo
these are really lovely!!!
Oh how fascinating! They look giant…and the color is beautiful! I love how you photographed them among all the green, too.
These are some big mushrooms Barb, and they made for some wonderful photographs! I especially love the way you composed the 4th one. Really great angle! Sure glad you got sidetracked, as it was well worth it :-)
Thank you so much for sharing these at The Creative Exchange.
Have a wonderful day!
lisa.
So beautiful pictures. I like them very much.
i love these ‘shrooms!
Wow – these are wonderful mushroom photos! I love every single one of them.
Wow – these are wonderful mushroom photos! I love every single one of them.
Du hast die Pilze aus einer tollen Perspektive fotografiert….sehr schöne Aufnahmen…
LG: Karin
Very cool! Looks like sea salt sprinkled on the top! :)
Really beautiful captures! I love the colors.
Very cool. I like the different angles. Rebecca