Mushrooms

I set out on a small journey through woods and meadows Sunday, November 6, 2011.  I had traveled not very far when what should I chance upon but some mushrooms growing from the trunk of a tree possibly eight feet above the ground.  There were a set of twins that seemed to be sprouting from where a dead limb had been removed from the tree trunk in some manner which makes me think they must be of a parasitical nature.  I’ve no idea why, but one grew quite straight up while the other grew in an outward curve before heading upward.  I must assume the second one needed to clear the first in order to survive.  Just how the spores got up onto the tree trunk is anybody’s guess, but assuredly they did.  That other branch nearby is nearly dead also, and will likely subside to nature’s whims during the coming winter.

Those who follow this blog may note that the second photo depicts the beaver’s plug of the north end of the sluice pipe creating the large pond above it.  This is where Bucky and Eager live and play.  I snapped this photo to show the small edge of ice along the left or west side of the small dirt pile even though this was midafternoon.  The sun had yet to peek at this location yet.  It is surely a sign of things to come in the fairly near future.  Soon the pond will be frozen, and covered with snow for a few months.

The third photo was taken over the newest pond being formed by a probable kit of Bucky and Eager.  All of the fresh cut trees are going to be the winter food supply of the residents of this pond.  They appear to be mostly, if not all, poplar.  They will be chewed into three or four foot long sections and pushed into the bottom of the pond mud near a den.  As winter progresses the bark will be stripped for food, while the residue wood will be used as building material for their den and dam.  Eroded areas can be seen where the beaver leave and enter the water as they go about their daily business.  I don’t know exactly where their den is yet, but you can bet it is dug into the pond’s bank close to that area.