Fruit and Fungi

This morning, I thought I would see if I could find any fungi along the 'farm walk'. The task turned out to be much easier than I'd expected, as it seems to be good year for the budding Mycologist. Always the best to find are the Fly Agarics - probably the most easily identifiable fungus and the archetypal 'toadstool'.

Among the Silver Birches at this time of year, they always make a brilliant display.

Well-known for their hallucinogenic qualities, it is often said that anyone who ingests them, soon gets the feeling that inanimate objects are alive!

Needless to say, I didn't test out the theory, preferring to just enjoy the colourful scene.

As well as the Fly Agarics, there were plenty of other fungi thrusting out of the leaf litter, but I will have to try and identify them before posting them on the blog.
Also along the hedgerows this morning, the fruits of autumn were numerous and colourful. Rather delicate-looking and very red, were those belonging to the Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade.

Looking attractive and juicy, they are of course poisonous, although fatalities are very rare and would require the ingestion of a very large quantity.

Further along and the berries were quite different.

These are Privet berries and are also poisonous. Eating these could result in nausea, low blood pressure, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Far better just to appreciate the shiny fruits on the bush and leave them to the birds.

More Fungi will follow as I try to identify them...