Green Hour Challenge #6: Shelf Fungi

The main assignment for Barb's Green Hour Challenge #6 was to start a collection. But, she also said that if things were going well and you didn't feel ready to start a collection, that was fine, too. We might start a lichen collection later on, but for now I think we'll continue to work through our list from challenge #5. This week's topic: shelf (or bracket) fungi.

Last night, I re-read the section in HONS about bracket fungi. Bracket fungi come in many colors and are usually found on dead logs. If they are found on living trees, they are usually destroying it. Thankfully, all the shelf/bracket fungi we found were on dead logs.

We found at least 4 different kinds of shelf fungi. Most of them are very thin, but the one above was plump.This was a beautiful green fungi. We were supposed to observe the underside, too, but I couldn't find an easy way to do it. I didn't feel safe kneeling in the pine needles - there have been lots of rumors of snakes in the area.

I started my own nature walk while Alexandra was still in class. I took some photos of this Philadelphia Fleabane. We studied wildflowers last year and I was happy I remembered the name of this delicate looking flower.

Then I remembered seeing some photos of flowers taken from the underside. I turned this group of flowers over to photograph it, and found this neat insect! You might enlarge this photo - the "hairs" on the plant look really neat. Identification: Zebra Longhorn Beetle. They occur in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states and are active March to August and are seen on a variety of flowers.

And, who would have guessed how beautiful a dandelion could be? This one looks really neat enlarged, too.

After Alexandra got out of class and had recess, I took her on our nature walk. Two of the little boys from her class joined us for the fun! We came up to a tree (at this point, it was just Alexandra and me) and I challenged her to find an insect or spider before I could. Well, what a find! You'll have to enlarge it... if you dare! I mean, if you want to. :-) It's a very well camoflauged spider eating a caterpillar! (So sad, but that's nature!)

My biggest thrill was passing on some of my love of nature to two more little boys - both of who probably love nature already, but we got to enjoy it together. And, I enjoyed our hunt for fungi, wildflowers, insects, and spiders.