Up a tree

Seeing so many mushrooms on the 1st August makes me think summer is all but over!

Once upon a time

there was a toadstool.

Views from on high

Hanging On

Today I was only looking for one quick picture to use as my Blip but as luck would have it I found so many pictures in the Penicuik Estate, that it was hard to make a choice. I was very much taken with these leaves gently floating by the edge of the Low Pond and looking very impressionistic.

White wandering further along the edge of the Low Pond we came across several trees adorned with mushrooms almost the size of a side plate in a variety of shapes and sizes.

 Fortunately several were located low enough to take a picture of the top of one of them. So impressive.

Nestling together

A profusion of mushrooms

Still more mushrooms

Colonizing a tree trunk

When we started our dog walk in Penicuik Estate I casually remarked that I wouldn't mind seeing some more fungi, and lo and behold my wish was granted on a very big scale. We came across a fallen tree trunk that was literally covered in them. We pass this spot almost every day but maybe of my remark we were paying more attention than usual and noticed this. Photographing involved a bit of rough walking among stinging nettles but it was worth it (and I was wearing long leggings!). The amount of mushrooms left me speechless and I also reckon we hit them photographically speaking at just the best moment.

I also must just mention that my heart has swollen so much today that there is almost no room for it in my chest cavity due to extreme pride of Flora. She behaved so amazingly well with a visitor that she hadn't met before, and did hardly any barked guarding inside the house. In return it was a great biscuit day as far as she was concerned. Then for the first time ever she climbed the surrounds of the fountain in the estate and tried to drink the water.Clever girl. Finally we met a very lively and friendly sort of lurcher/pointer dog on the Penicuik House lawn (so much larger than her) and they started playing and running on the grass. Very proud dog mummy moment!

The fungi keep coming

View to the Pentland Hills

A glorious day for dog walking in the Penicuik Estate

Fairy Toadstool

Deep in the dark forest

More Mushrooms

They seem to spring up overnight!

Parasol Mushrooms

Where are the fairies?

 During our dog walk in the Penicuik Estate yesterday I spotted a large colony of fungi growing on a tree stump. I took a picture for Instagram but promised myself a return visit today. If anything there seemed to be even more of them today but try as I might, I couldn't find any fairies sitting on any of them!

Red and white delight

During this afternoon's dog walk in Penicuik Estate, we spotted some fly agaric mushrooms in the forest. I clambered up there (result a very wet foot!) and took some pictures, just when the sun decided to show it's face. I also spotted a very large alsatian dog between the trees and for a brief moment thought of wolves. It seems it's owner had the same idea as I had about the mushrooms.