This time of year there is a different bloom happening, especially in the Northwest part of the United States. Mushroom-forming fungi are sending up their fruiting bodies which come in a fascinating variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. On the underside of the cap is the part of the mushroom where the spores are produced and come in four categories: pores, gills, teeth, or ridges. I am still pretty new to the world of fungi and I feel the one I photographed here has pores. As I started researching, I learned this part is valuable and often crucial in identification which, for me, is a vast and complex world I am still discovering.
My inspiration for this post is to show you the amazing architecture hiding under this mushroom cap. I also want to remind you (and me) that even during the cold, rainy months of late fall and winter with shorter daylight, there is so much beautiful life to seek and explore. I hope to see you out there!