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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Mushrooms, birds and other delights

I am enjoying photographing and looking at the toadstools and mushrooms springing up throughout my garden and yard. Besides their beauty, they are also a symbol of how thoroughly we have pulled out of last year's drought.Last fall we had gone through a spring and summer with almost no rain as I frequently discussed on my blog. It wasn't until the spring of 2008 that significant rain turned the tide after close to 12 months of drought conditions.
Starting in March the tides turned and we've had regular rain since then. I'm glad that the city officials aren't forgetting how bad it got. There are still articles about how in spite of full reservoirs that it's too early to know if the ground water levels have recovered. I hope that water conservation will be a permanent part of my city's management and I think that's what has happened to an extent.I have barely scratched the surface of the multitude of mushrooms that have cropped up at my place, but I wanted to post a few other aspects of my outdoor life that delight me.The bird above (I think it's a brown thrasher) cracked me up. It kept getting deeper into the red bud tree but it was chirp chirp chirping so loudly, that is directed me towards where to photograph.I'm surprised I didn't catch it with its mouth open it was so noisy. I'm looking forward to winter when I can photograph more of the birds of bare limbs. I'm already getting the occasional shot from the tips of trees that dropped their leaves earlier than the rest. In contrast to the first signs of winter like scenes, the jungle in my back yard is another testament to drought's end.
I guess I'll end here. I am taking so many photographs lately it's really crazy.

10 comments:

ellen b. said...

Wow look at the colors on those toadstools. I love that word toadstools. I enjoyed your discoveries here today. enjoy...

juliana said...

wow, all these mushrooms grow in your garden?

keep taking photos, it's a pleasure to look at them :)

Leslie: said...

Wow, fabulous shots of mushrooms, etc. I was out and about the other day taking photos of flowers still in bloom and yesterday I saw a chestnut tree just heavy with husks. Come on over to see these 2 posts if you like.

Dr.John said...

But we enjoy all the pictures.

jmb said...

Some mushrooms are totally gorgeous but the one which occasionally grace my lawn are boring.
Lovely photos Carver and I am glad the drought is over.

desert dirt diva said...

I to love all your pictures don't stop,is that last one a picture of your shed?

are any of those toad stools edible??
just thought i would ask

Carver said...

Thanks so much to everyone for visiting. To answer questions, I don't know if any are edible but am afraid to find out the hard way. I think some (solid brown large ones)look edible. The last shot shows my water heater room/storage area up against the house. My official shed/storage building is in the other direction up behind my garden next to my small greenhouse.

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

That's so funny......I did a post just yesterday with mushrooms seen while on a hike! I love the ones you found, so unique :o)

Here was mine:
Wayfaring Wanderer: ~Tiny Details~

Heart of Rachel said...

I've never seen different varieties of mushrooms like those before. Very interesting.

Mojo said...

I thought this post looked familiar, but if I saw it when it originally came out I didn't comment on it.

The drought of 2007 was fierce for sure, but I think water conservation has finally sunk in as a necessity to the city fathers.