Mycology 101

It seems that everyone has had a wet, soaking summer, and because of the soggy conditions, fungi and mushrooms are springing up in everyone's lawns. The same is true in New Jersey. 

These just look like a multitude of big, brown ones from a distance,

but a little closer, I think they look like snickerdoodles.

Another type in the baked goods genus is this red velvet mushroom (that's what I call them).

I only catch these ethereal, almost transparent ones early in the morning as they seem to almost melt away as soon as the sun shines on them. With only one sunny day this week, they're sticking around.

 We have ugly, brown, stinky ones (that I originally thought were rotting walnuts),

along with cute little floriform varieties.

This interesting spotted one is a little more rare. 

I complained about squirrels yesterday, but they also provide some entertainment when they get into the mushrooms.

They love these red-capped ones, and completely destroy them by nibbling as soon as a fresh crop emerges. It only takes a few minutes before they start flipping around on the ground like the Three Stooges, chasing each other, falling out of trees, or sometimes just lying prone and sprawled on the ground. These mushrooms must be high in psilocybin because the squirrels certainly act high. I've tried to take videos, but no success so far. 

We have guidebooks for almost everything - trees, birds, fish, wildflowers, rocks and minerals - but none for mushrooms, so Mushrooms of the Northeast is on its way to my house. I'll be in both NY and MD next week, so I hope to get lots of use out of it for Mycology 102 and 103!