Woodear mushrooms (genus Polypore) are some of my favorites. As I’ve shared an earlier post, they release a protein which breaks down wood, thus any tree that you see with wood years on them are goners. Although this is a bit depressing, it is an amazing testament to the cycle of nature.
I found these two little polypore mushrooms on a picnic bench on a friend’s property in Brevard, North Carolina, where my parents have stayed for seven years, and where we have visited numerous times. The bench was not particularly old, but it was beginning to get weathered in these two little woodear mushrooms appeared to be a bit confused as to the medium on which they chose to grow.
In nature, as in life, it pays to be adaptable. When I was younger, I was adaptable. Not too much fazed me. As I grew older my anxiety grew, and I began to be much less adaptable. I would get grumpy when plans changed, much to the chagrin of Anna and her family. I think this change was brought about by my extended blue period, which I am thankful to say I am on the other side of these days. What once came so easily to me when I was younger, I now have to work for. Adaptability as an adult is a learned skill, and once lost it is hard to relearn.
ST. AMAND PHOTOGRAPHY 