Only a couple days later – Photo: L. Weikel

Mushroom Family Update

“They grow up so fast.” We say this about our human families, and often about our four legged family members too. And now, here I am, offering a Mushroom Family update a mere two days after first introducing you to the newest family to move into (onto?) our maple tree.

I have to admit, when I wrote about the Mushroom Family a couple nights ago, I never expected them to mature quite so quickly or dramatically. That’s especially true when I compared the current family to the photos of last year’s crop, which I took two weeks later in the month. I don’t believe last year’s mushrooms ever reached this level of magnificence.

And who knows? The conditions may be just right to produce the most astounding crop of mushrooms ever! If they continue to flourish, I will keep you apprised of their status.

Red-bellied sentinel – Photo: L. Weikel

Disturbing the Vibe

While I was taking these photos of the Mushroom Family earlier today, I was surprised to find myself having a close and somewhat surly encounter with a Red-bellied Woodpecker. We were privy to a couple of Red-bellied families this year, one of whom I’m pretty sure built their nest in a hollow of this very maple. Indeed, the hollow would probably qualify as ‘just around the corner’ from the Mushroom Family, so I’m guessing that this avian sentinel is just conducting some routine Neighborhood Watch activity.

I can attest that it did seem perturbed that I was directing a significant amount of human attention toward the Mushroom Family. And while I’ve taken lots of photos of the Red-bellied peckers that frequent our feeders, this is the one I specifically took this afternoon, after it fluttered its wings in the general direction of my head and then rather defiantly perched above me.

I can appreciate that Red-belly didn’t care for how I was disturbing the vibe of the neighborhood. I think we can all appreciate the disruptive nature of my behavior, and I assure you, I apologized.

But I did warn her: if the Mushroom Family continues to expand their girth in ways that are shocking and newsworthy, I’m going to be back and I’m going to be taking more photos.

My maple Ent – with Mushroom Family – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-403)