I have been walking regularly along the road to our new house in Vergemoli. The road is mostly under the cover of chestnut trees.
I have barely noticed a tree stump which I must have passed dozens of times over the past few weeks, but today the path was wet after heavy rain, and I was watching my footing on the slippery leaves….and I spotted this.
On closer inspection I saw the stump was almost covered in a crop of tiny mushrooms.
I can’t decide whether they look like clusters of tiny parasols, or limpets, or nipples….what do you think?
Take a look at some enormous (and delicious) mushrooms on Bella Bagni di Lucca.
nippled sea creatures
By: Maryon Allen on October 18, 2012
at 11:21 am
Good suggestion.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 11:22 am
Good shots to show details that many don’t ever notice!
By: aFrankAngle on October 18, 2012
at 11:34 am
They were very tiny, no bigger than my finger tips, and so pretty.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 4:58 pm
What great shots :Deb,National Geographic worthy ( is that magazine still in print)
By: Anonymous on October 18, 2012
at 11:35 am
I had to squat for some time to get close enough….I hope they appreciate it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 4:59 pm
Great pictures – you are a wonderful photographer and I agree “worthy of National Geographic”
Pam Proctor
By: Anonymous on October 18, 2012
at 11:39 am
Thank you, it helps having lovely subjects.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:00 pm
¡gorgeous finding Debra! a whole world of parasols… there are tiny worlds everywhere, and sometimes we are lucky enough to get to meet them
By: maru on October 18, 2012
at 11:42 am
I was there again today and the tiny mushrooms are already starting to shrivel.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:00 pm
We are going mushroom hunting this weekend. My hubby like to put them in oil with some garlic and parsley. I hope you didn’t pick these … ? Great shots, love the first one the best. Huge tree stump with lots of beautiful life left in it! 🙂
By: Jennifer Avventura on October 18, 2012
at 11:50 am
I imagine they are poisonous, but I wouldn’t pick them anyway, it would be a shame to ruin the scene.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:01 pm
Some clearly mini parasols, some, yes, nipples. But whatever, Debra, what a lucky find for your camera. Envy! lol. Carina
By: Carina on October 18, 2012
at 11:53 am
There were several types together, such an interesting little group.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:02 pm
They really look beautiful! So gorgeous that I would almost bet that they are poisonous. Chestnut woods seem to get covered by wild mushrooms as soon as there is a bit of rain. Great photos, Debra.
By: mulino dominillo on October 18, 2012
at 11:58 am
I thought it likely they would be poisonous.I would be reluctant to pick anything without an expert beside me.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:03 pm
Love the photos, Deb, especially the close-ups of the fungi. To me, they resemble delicate parasols. The white stump sticking out (in the fifth picture) looks like a squirrel gazing at the mushrooms. What do you think?
By: Sandra H on October 18, 2012
at 12:49 pm
You have a lovely imagination, it was a stone.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:04 pm
Reblogged this on Anything Interesting on WordPress and commented:
I can remember my Old childhood days of collecting mushrooms going through this post!
By: seohunter on October 18, 2012
at 1:12 pm
fantastic, and so delicate.. c
By: cecilia on October 18, 2012
at 1:21 pm
They were tiny fragile things which will only last a few days.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:04 pm
Looks like you discovered an entire ecosystem inside the stump of that one tree! It always amazes me how much life there is all around us without us even noticing. Great observation today!
By: tesorotreasures on October 18, 2012
at 1:36 pm
While I was on the path today I saw a large horned wild goat, at least I think that is what it was. He took off when he saw me.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 18, 2012
at 5:05 pm
Gorgeous. Such dainty delicacies. Are they edible???? Debra, do you know a couple from Santa Fe NM who live in bagni di lucca? Won’t name them here, but just curious. They’re friends.
By: jann on October 18, 2012
at 4:19 pm
I don’t think the mushrooms would be edible, and they are too cute to pick anyway. I don’t know the couple from Santa Fe.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:50 pm
These mushrooms look so pretty – I think they look like miniature parasols.
By: Just Add Attitude on October 18, 2012
at 6:42 pm
They don’t last long, they are already fading a day later.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:51 pm
I’m always in awe of mushroom pickers – I’m too scared to eat anything I find! Great photos, Deb! Do you know what sort they are?
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on October 18, 2012
at 7:41 pm
I don’t know what type of mushrooms they are, I have never seen them before.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:52 pm
I am often delighted when I come across wild mushrooms! Some here are as large as plates and so colourful 🙂 There are so many of those little ones!
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on October 18, 2012
at 9:26 pm
We have huge porcini mushrooms here at the moment, they are delicious.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:53 pm
Love the close ups
By: hangargallery on October 18, 2012
at 10:00 pm
They look like such delicious little parasols! I love how they sit so beautifully in the moss.
By: James on October 19, 2012
at 2:06 am
I thought it was a gorgeous little collection.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:54 pm
Beautiful pictures. They remind me a little of delicate sea shells.
By: Karen Overton on October 19, 2012
at 4:01 am
They are very tiny, fragile looking things. A day of sun would be the end of them
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:54 pm
Love these pictures Deb. Reminds me of a magical place in a child’s special story book.
By: Dianne Cant on October 19, 2012
at 9:23 am
I can imagine someone creating a fairy story out of this little forest of mushrooms
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:55 pm
All that and more Debra 😉 What a magical discovery! Just goes to show what nature reveals when we slow down and watch our footing…
By: Janine on October 19, 2012
at 12:18 pm
It is a lovely walk up to the house (especially when I am not carrying stuff) I must remember always to keep my eyes open.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 19, 2012
at 8:56 pm
Aw, go on, just nibble a little bit and see what happens, Debra. They might be worth some money in the coffee shops of Amsterdam.
By: Richard Tulloch on October 20, 2012
at 8:32 am
I’ll pick some and send them on to you to try first.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 20, 2012
at 12:20 pm
How beautiful! I think it looks like a fairy village.
By: Damommachef on October 21, 2012
at 12:06 am
It does look like a fairy village.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2012
at 5:15 am
Fabulous photos ! I have been lax in reading blogs the last few weeks and just read the Marilyn one too – hope you are well xx Jo
By: Joanna on October 21, 2012
at 8:33 pm