Monday, August 17, 2009

Dating with Mushrooms

It rained for the last two weeks, in fact, it poured. I took my chance this Saturday morning to visit Cerok Tokun again. There was no thunder nor storm, but their footsteps can be traced everywhere in the jungle.

Mushrooms were seen popping up, here, and there. They have mushroomed since last few days.

It was a good day for mushroom hunting.

These saprophytic fungi were the first to be seen on my hiking trail; they do play an essential function for our ecosystems. By breaking down dead organic material, they return nutrients to the soil so new life can flourish, yet their sizes are much smaller than my finger nail.

My flash was on for the following hunting in order to help these mushrooms be more lively in the stage.

They are parasitic fungi, but are not welcome as the species that are known as parasitic orchids. Don't you think they are cute and pretty too?

At the end, how can I help? They sometimes look so awful and weird.

Anyhow, I have a lesson learned from this hiking: bending and bowing are not enough in the interaction process with the mushrooms. Asking the camera to lie on the ground on behalf of me is actually an insult to them. These is the reason why I did not manage to get good pictures in return.

But then this will not stop me from showing you some more mushrooms stories in my next post.

23 comments:

Kirigalpoththa said...

Rainfield,
Fantastic post and i love those juvenile mushrooms!

Bengbeng said...

where is this place relative to BM? hope u can bring me along one of these days :)

Bengbeng said...

http://www.mylongkang.com/2009/05/09/pitcher-plant-aka-monkey-cup-hunting-in-the-jungle/

we did something similar here

cherie said...

oh my goodness, a trail of mushrooms! rainfield, i feel like eating them, hahaha!

The Retired One said...

They look like a trail of warts!!! Are you sure there are not trolls around?

Sharodindu said...

Fantastic shots...Loved the last shot very much...Mushroom rocks!
Btw.. we too are having monsoon here in India though it is late this year...but better late than never :)

Willie a.k.a Reptoz said...

Can the mushroom be eaten?

Ginnymo said...

Great photos! Interesting mushrooms you found.

betchai said...

i love mushroom hunting, that would probably the first outdoor activity taught to me when i was young aside of course from playing and running in the field :)

Icy BC said...

I agree! They are very pretty little mushrooms..

George said...

Thanks for the interesting information and photos about the mushrooms you've encountered on your hikes.

Anonymous said...

Did you know dogs are used to sniff out truffles?

I am curious as to how truffles taste like. I have yet to get an opportunity to savour this really expensive mushroom.

Rick (Ratty) said...

It looks to me like we have very similar trails right now. Our rain has brought mushrooms to my trails too. They grow all over the trees and the ground, and even right in the middle of the path.

Harshi said...

Nice shots Rain! The first three mushrooms look familiar but not the last.. which looks almost dead and decayed.. and surely doesn't look edible at all. =D

rainfield61 said...

kirigalpoththa: They are juvenile today, they won't be tomorrow.

Bengbeng: I have visited yours. It was a good adventure indeed.

cherie: If I am able to identify them, I shall email some to you for your soup.

The Retired One: I am still trying to spot any trolls. What should I do if I meet them? Any advice?

Sharodindu: It is odd to know it poured at anywhere on the globe. The earth is changing.

Willie: If you dare to try, I'll email you a few.

rainfield61 said...

Ginnymo: Stay tune! Next interesting picture will be on the air....

betchai: I knew nothing when I was young. I start to learn when I am old. So sorry to me.

Icy BC: I agree with you as well.

George: That's fun to go outdoor in the forest. You have experience the same.

Mei Ting: Yes, pig sniffs out truffles too.

Ratty: I do not know whether you see the same mushrooms or not. Anyhow, they will disappear during the winter time.

Harumi: I have to confirm carefully before I consider the last one as mushroom. They look really odd, aren't they?

CH said...

Sorry, I have stepped on a few of them along my way up the hill.
Your pictures show their characteristic differently.

Ana said...

How beautiful, they look so timeless. I love captivating experiences like this, and being at one with all the surrounding beauty, that makes the environment. It's so exciting to see everything tie in together, and simply not just because there are mushrooms. heehee. :) Great shots!

Joanne Olivieri said...

I love mushrooms though don't know much about them. My father used to go mushroom hunting when he was alive and knew about all of them. For me, I just eat them :)

Cherry said...

those are pretty little mushrooms.

i normally use my flash too when i find my shot very dull. it works! :)

Amila Salgado said...

"They have mushroomed since last few days".

Clever use of the language!

Heather Dugan ("Footsteps") said...

That last mushroom looks like a piece of misplaced sea coral!

Ayie said...

yeah the last one looks like coral. It's very hard for me to take picturesn in a worm's eyeview. Not too comfortable position but the result is worth if you do.