Walking outside today, I noticed something in the air. It was the smell of a changing season. Musky, moldy, wet, earthy. The air was sticky sweet with humidity. The mosquitoes whined and lit on my arms. It was cloudy and damp, with the feel of dusk, yet it was only afternoon. The constant rain had saturated the earth till it was spongy. Yet, I noticed something else: the simple beauty of nature around me.

What I noticed was the mushrooms. Lots of them. The chemical reaction of rain, dampness, earth and mold had played it's roll well. As I examined the variety of mushrooms in my yard and surrounding pasture, I wondered how in the world they could grow so fast. Almost overnight, it seemed, they popped their heads up and displayed themselves in diverse ways. Round and flat, white and yellow, the variety was endless. I could see a story in each one, a pattern of intricate tissue surrounding a sturdy stem. How lovely!

Then I wondered how mushrooms were created. I found out that they're actually a fungus derived from mold and mildew. Fascinating! They seem to take every shape, form and fashion imaginable.

Ranging from large, bold and vibrant to flat, brown and ugly, these little wonders resemble everything from a lollypop to a pancake, depending on your imagination.  Some look like leather, while others have a velvet texture.  There's a surprise in every one.

Though the specimens at right aren't very exciting, I could still imagine seeing different objects within them. What determines where a mushroom grows? How do they conform to different shapes? Why is the mushroom in the tire yellow and the blunt, fat spore a dull brown?

Have you ever become aware of the beauty in something you've never noticed before? Maybe something you take for granted at your door step? What about those un-noticed things?

I couldn't help but share the photographs I took. It seems like such a simple thing, these mushrooms. But for some reason, I couldn't leave it alone.

Remember those old "puffball" mushrooms/spores we used to stomp on when we were kids? They made a cloud of dust. We used to fight over who would get to step on the "ball" first. How long has it been since you stomped a mushroom ball?

I'd like to share my other photographs below, plus a little information on identifying the "bad" mushrooms. 

What an unlikely topic..................

Sometimes we feel inspired and don't know where it comes from. This article is a good example.