May 13 - Gross

Gross - disgusting, awful ... my daughter can't understand my fascination with fungi :) ... although she did say that this jelly fungi (tremella) was 'pretty' until I pointed out that it had lots of tiny slugs living on it ... then it was 'gross' again - sigh - I think it's great!

Not sure if the second image will show the slugs - they are tiny - all the little black bits are tiny slugs. I have seen them on an orange jelly fungi as well, so I can only conclude that it is a habitat for them.

So... building on 'gross' here's a picture of another fungi she hates ... Xylaria, also known as 'dead man's fingers' and for good measure of gross - an inkcap (coprinus), which autodigests itself with enzymes that cause it to liquefy and dissolve...

March 14th - Discovery

The coast walk from Bundeena in the Royal National Park is a spectacular one, with massive coastal cliffs of honey coloured sandstone, heathlands with hundreds of birds and the occasional unexpected discovery such as these little groups of mushrooms, pushing up from the sand. It was raining during the walk and when I downloaded the photos, I discovered a reflection of the photographer in one group of mushrooms - hmmm...

March 13th - Destruction

Nature is so destructive! In Australia we regularly see destruction by fire, flood and cyclone, and I have some photos in my files of all of these, having lived in places where they happen regularly, but she also destroys slowly... fungi breaks down the trees until they are gone and man's constructions slowly yield to the elements if not maintained and repaired...

Both photos from our latest walks - the fungi in Mt Tomah botanic gardens and the boatshed in Port Hacking, Royal National Park.

January 18 - Awful

Walking the Polblue track in the Barrington Tops on a clear summer's day we smelt something truly awful - the source was this fabulous stinkhorn fungi 'clathrus archeri'. Getting closer to take a photo intensified the foetid smell, but photographers are well known for taking on a challenge - holding my breath for the time it took to grab this image ;). Be happy that your computer has no 'smellavision'.