(+2 in notes above)

As the weather shifts from summer to fall, I know that mushrooms will soon be growing again. It's a wonderful adventure to go on a hunting mission because I never know what I will find!

I wandered into our lower forest one morning and stopped to peer carefully at a large log, and discovered this happy little guy peering back at me! As I moved closer to take pictures, I realized that this fellow was actually growing through a crack in the log! I took some pictures from above to show that it was, indeed, growing through a hole (please roll your mouse over the upper left corner to see!). This particular log had rotted from the inside out, and lay on the ground like a bark-covered shell. Lifting it up, I could hardly believe what I saw!! This seemingly short little mushroom was actually a giraffe in a mushroom suit! I was able to hold the log up with one hand and take pictures with the other!

When I went to process that third picture, I was astonished to see the countless other mushrooms growing there as well! What an amazing find!! Please click on that image to visit the larger version--it's fun to see all of the fun details of the mushrooms growing under that log!