Last Sunday dawned cool and free of the oppressive humidity that we’ve seen so much of this summer, so I thought I’d go for a climb up to the High Blue Trail lookout in Walpole. As I mentioned in last Saturday’s post, I’ve been having some breathing issues so I chose this trail because the climb is easy and gentle. I also chose it because there is usually much to see here and on this day I wasn’t disappointed.
The first things that caught my eye were the map like patterns in this coltsfoot leaf left by leaf miners. How remarkable that anything could be small enough to eat the tissue between the top and bottom surfaces of a leaf.
Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides) leaves whispered that fall was on the way but I didn’t want to listen.
But listen I had to, because everywhere I looked nature was whispering fall. Soon the whisper will become a shout.
I saw a young fly agaric (Amanita muscaria v. formosa) just up out of the soil and looking like it had been scrubbed clean even though it hadn’t rained in a week. This mushroom is common where pine trees grow. The name fly agaric comes from the practice of putting pieces of the mushroom in a dish of milk. The story says that when flies drank the milk they died, but it’s something I’ve never tried. Fly agaric is said to have the ability to “turn off” fear in humans and is considered toxic. Vikings are said to have used it for that very reason.
I’ve seen plenty of club coral fungi but I’ve never seen one that was hairy like this one. I think they might be examples of cotton base coral fungi (Lentaria byssieda,) which has “stalks that rise out of a creamy white, felt-like, hairy mycelial patch.” From what I’ve seen online and in guide books this fungi’s appearance can vary greatly as far as shape, with some having branch tips that are sharply pointed and others with blunt branch tips.
When I saw this I knew that it didn’t matter what else I saw on this day, because my day was complete. Violet coral fungus (Clavaria zollingeri) is a very rare thing in these parts and this is only the second time I’ve seen one. Both times I’ve seen it on a hillside, growing out of the soil on the side of the trail. Such a rare and beautiful thing can take you outside yourself for a time and I knelt there in the dirt taking photos and admiring it for I don’t know how long. I wish I’d see more of them but who knows what makes them only show themselves so rarely, and who knows why they wear that color?
The old road isn’t long but it is winding.
Before you know it you’re at the sign on the side road that leads to the lookout.
A birch tree had fallen across the old road. Many trees have fallen this summer and in a way it’s a good thing. Weak trees standing in a forest could fall without warning at any time so it’s good when the wind removes them. It’s dangerous to have them standing near trails, as this one illustrates.
I saw quite a few examples of the old man of the woods mushroom (Strobilomyces floccopus.) This grayish mushroom has black scales on its cap and stem and was very hard to get a good shot of. Both cameras that I carried had trouble focusing on it. Nobody seems to know how this mushroom came by its common name.
The old man’s pore surface starts off white, then turns gray before finally becoming black, so this one had some age. The flesh turns pinkish red when bruised and finally turns black. You can see the shaggy stem in this photo and that helps with identification.
Powdery mildew on an oak showed how very humid and still the air has been lately. Molds and mildews have a hard time developing when there is good air circulation.
Soon I was at the cornfield which was once a meadow. All my senses go on high alert here because I know that bears come here regularly to feed on the corn. I carried bear spray but if a bear suddenly burst out of the cornfield I doubt I would have had time to use it, so I stopped and listened for a minute or two. Hearing nothing but the rustling of the corn leaves I moved on.
The corn was just about ready to pick but since this is cattle corn the whole plant gets chewed up and becomes silage. It attracts almost every animal in the forest, including deer and raccoons but I was surprised to find very little animal damage among the stalks. Quite often you’ll find broken stalks lying on the ground with the husks torn from the ears, and all the kernels eaten. Maybe the animals are waiting for it to become dead ripe, I don’t know.
I saw two or three of these odd insects on ears of corn. Some kind of shield bug, I think.
Asters bloomed along the edge of the cornfield.
A black eyed Susan bloomed among hundreds of blooming lobelias. These were the pretty little lobelias called Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata.) I was surprised to see them because they’re just about finished blooming down in the low country.
I was especially glad the lobelias were blooming because there were two monarch butterflies visiting the small flowers. I scared this one away but luckily it landed close enough to get a photo of. I’ve been seeing lots of monarchs this year I’m happy to say, but this is the only one I’ve been able to get a photo of.
Though it was cool, sunny and dry when I left Keene by the time I reached the overlook clouds had rolled in and the air was so thick with humidity you could have cut it with a knife. This didn’t make breathing any easier and I was just about puffed out, as my blogging friend Mr. Tootlepedal says, so all I could think of was getting back to the car and into some air conditioning. After a couple of quick shots of the thick haze I headed back down the hill.
The view wasn’t very good; you couldn’t even see Stratton Mountain over in Vermont. The blue was a little darker where it should have been but I think I see it in this shot only because I know where it is. As I’ve said many time before, if I climbed for the view I’d end up disappointed most of the time, so though I enjoy seeing across the Connecticut River Valley into Vermont I could hardly be disappointed after seeing all of the beautiful things I saw on the way up here. It isn’t about the end of the trail or how fast you can climb a hill; it really is about what you see along the way.
The events of the past day have proven to me that I am wholly alive, and that no matter what transpires from here on in, I have truly lived. ~Anonymous mountain climber
Thanks for stopping in.
The violet coral fungus was quite a find, and very beautiful, I hope to see it in person someday.
It must be tough to climb a trail like this one if you’re having breathing problems, and the humidity sure doesn’t help.
It is hard to believe that there are insects so small that they can eat between the surfaces of leaves without breaking through to the surface, nature is truly amazing, even if we can see only the tracks of the extremely small critters in it.
Fall is definitely on its way whether we like it or not. Yesterday was close to perfect for shooting macros, filtered sun and no wind, but I had a hard time finding any flowers worth shooting, they’re all on their last legs and not very attractive. And, there were some trees in full fall color already, this summer went by much too quickly, even if it was too warm and humid for my tastes.
Thanks Jerry! That violet coral is hard to find but I hope you do.
We had a couple of cool humidity free days last weekend and it proved to me that the humidity does indeed make a big difference when it comes to breathing problems.
Nature sure is amazing!
I don’t like to think about fall but the trees sure are beautiful. I’m sorry yours are changing so fast but if it makes you feel any better some of ours have already changed too. It seems far to early to me!
Another beautiful post! The violet coral fungus was an amazing find – I would love to be able to see one of those one day. I was also pleased to see the monarch butterfly and to know you’ve seen more of these lovely insects this year than last year. I am so glad I don’t need to worry about bears when I go out walking!
Thank you Clare. Violet corals do grow there but I think they’re just as rare there as they are here. I hope you’ll see one. They’re small; not even the size of a hen’s egg, so they’re a little hard to see.
I’m glad I’m seeing more monarchs too. I hope it means they’re making a comeback.
9 out 0f 10 bears will run when they see you but there is always that 10th one that will confront you and he’s the one I’m trying hard to avoid. We’re having kind of a population explosion of them now as well, so that increases the chances. I carry bear spray and hope I never have to use it.
I know colts foot as the yellow flower stock early spring on the sides of dirt roads. Your post of the colts foot leaf made me realize that the big leaves I always see later in the season ,which I have wondered about, are the later developed leaves of the colts foot plant.Then I just read that this plant had been called the “son before the father”, based on this growth pattern. You have a wealth of knowledge to share!
Thank you Judy, I’m happy that I could help with that. I always try to remember where I’ve seen the leaves so I can go back in spring and see the flowers.
So sorry about your breathing problems. The humidity has been terrible in Maine, too. Now, however, it is downright chilly. I really like “whispering fall.” Yes, soon it will be a shout.
Thank you Laurie. It’s been chilly here too the past couple mornings. Good breathing weather!
Fall is happening. I saw enough color today to convince me of that.
It is coming!
Thanks for sharing your climb up the High Blue Trail. Almost like we were there with you getting down to admire the Violet coral fungus! I’ve never seen such a thing. We have had three days of beautiful and cool weather!
You’re welcome Chris, that’s a great place to climb even though it’s really more of an uphill walk.
I’ll crawl in the mud any time to see a violet coral fungus. They seem to be very rare here and from what I’ve read they’re rare just about everywhere.
We’ve had two days so far of cooler weather and I’m loving it. Breathing is easier!
Great fungi on this climb. The violet coral fungus is amazing. Glad you’ve been seeing Monarchs this year.
Thanks! Yes, I’m seeing monarchs daily now but usually only at work, not at home. That’s part of why I can never get a photo of them!
You need to bring a camera and chase the during your lunch break!
I always have a camera but it’s a little point and shoot and I’m never close enough.
Those leaves are very interesting!
Thank you Cynthia, I thought so too!
I found the Violet coral fungus (Clavaria zollingeri) last weekend, too, for the first time ever, along the Knights Hill Nature Park trails in New London NH! So exciting. There were a couple of batches of them there, in various places. And also a stinkhorn mushroom! And bottle gentian blooming. Red letter day for me. I’m always happy when I see a new post from you on Feedly.
Thank you, I didn’t know I was on Feedly!
You’re so lucky to find batches of the violet coral. I’ve only seen two plants at two different times.
Stinkhorns are always a good find too. They’re on the rare side here. I think I’ve only seen two of them as well.
All that and a bottle gentian too would definitely be a red letter day! Good hunting!
Sorry to hear that you have been have some breathing troubles. All this hear and humidity we’ve been having can’t be helping – it makes even easy tasks seem like a workout! I think your odd bug might be a green stink bug nymph. And I will be keeping my eyes peeled for violet coral fungi now – what an amazingly beautiful little thing to see!
Thank you Karen. No, that heat and humidity can make even people with strong lungs have breathing problems. It is easier for me now that it has cooled off.
You could be right about the stink bug. I’m not good with insects but I’ll try to look it up.
I hope you do find that violet coral fungus. It’s small but well worth the effort!
I am sorry that after the effort of getting to the top, your breathing let you down. It is no fun being puffed out. I wish that I could see a violet coral fungus.
Thank you. I think it was the humidity, which has been terrible.
You could get your wish. I looked it up and there are violet coral fungi in Scotland, but it sounds as if they’re as rare as they are here.
I saw an Old Man of the Woods mushroom last week and after I identifed it, I searched your blog to see if you tagged it before. And now, here it is! I wish that I see a violet coral fungus someday too. I’m glad you’re seeing more Monarchs, I hope that means they’re making a comeback. Please get your lungs checked by a doctor? Maybe it’s something easy to fix? I hope your breathing gets better.
Thank you Lynn. You got lucky, I think that’s the first time the old man of the woods has appeared here.
I hope monarchs are making a comeback too. I’ve been seeing a few more over the past 2 or 3 years so I’m hopeful!
I’ve seen more doctors than I can count and though my breathing should get better it isn’t an easy fix. It’ll take some work I think, but it’s worth the effort.
That purple fungus is supreme!
Thank you Eliza, I agree!
It’s amazing to see that much variety this time of the summer. The violet coral fungus is a thing of beauty and the photos you got of it are a treasure!
Thanks Montucky! I agree, we still have quite a lot to see even in September. The leaves will be changing any time too.
That violet coral fungus is a rare and beautiful thing!
Much beauty here as usual. Sorry to read about the breathing problem. I hope it can be overcome with time, good food, exercise and rest.
Thank you Ben. That’s exactly how it will be overcome, I hope.
My fingers are crossed on your behalf.
Thank you Ben, I appreciate that.
🙂
Thank you for yet another wonderful post! I went back to see where I missed you were mentioning having breathing problems in the last post, but could not find it. I am sorry to hear of your struggle. I know Nature is a balm for all that ails us… And I’m sure you know this better than I do! Thank you again for sharing your connection to the miracles of Nature all around us!
You’re welcome and thank you Sonya. Sorry, that was last Saturday’s post, not the last one. I’m sure the breathing problems will get better with time and practice.
Yes, I do indeed believe nature is a great healer but I also think we have to do our part as well.
Nice post, Allen…I love the look of that trail…and the message in the quote. I hope your lungs get better soon, as well…they’re a “must have” for all of your wandering. 🙂
Thank you Scott. Yes, it’s hard to do much if you have to struggle to breathe. Things should get a little easier now that the heavy humidity has gone.
Even “huffing and puffing” you give your readers a hard time to choose for the most beautiful photo. I’m torn between the purple coral fungus and the old man of the woods for fungi or the monarch butterfly and the bug on the corn.
Thank you Zyriacus. There’s so much beauty out there I’m always torn on what to show here and what not to. It’s always a hard decision!
Sorry about your breathing problems, hope they clear up soon. My favourite picture today was the coltsfoot leaf after it being mined by the leaf miner. I would never have known such an insect existed without you. It was a wonderful display of nature’s ability to make patterns.
Thanks very much Susan. I hope to exercise my lungs more to get them breathing better.
There are so many beautiful patterns in nature I think I could do a blog about just them and never cover it all.