#woodland wonders

[herbalnature]

Check out these vibrant Gliophorus psittacinus mushrooms sprouting from the earthy bed of a British Columbia forest. Their whimsical shapes and colors seem like little treasures hidden amidst the forest floor.

[missedmilemarkers]

[geopsych]

A look into the woods this morning.

[gilgamish]

WIP Wednesday

Tagged by: @saltymaplesyrup and @throughtrialbyfire Tagging: @kookaburra1701 , @dirty-bosmer , and @skyrim-forever Going back and writing some 'connective tissue' chapters for a new draft! It's been really fun! Here's a snippet from that: (pov character is hunting during this fyi, so cw: animal death, just in case!)

Further down the mountain slopes, the forest picked up again, and there reverberated a high, reedy noise, at first almost a pure, almost musical note, until it denigrated down into a guttural cry, carried off by the low, sonorous moan of wind rolled through the valley and broke against the trees. It was this that Kaidan pursued, the bugling of elk. For in Skyrim, rut began in Last Seed and would continue through Hearthfire, until the first week of Frostfall. The meat would not be good, but it was meat.

The plants of the forest laid low to the ground, creating a carpet of reds, greens, and browns, but the going was still slow. The terrain was rugged and he had to climb to negotiate the boulders and open rock faces that made up the landscape, but this was old hat to Kaidan, who had spent the better part of his youth running through forests like these. He no longer felt confined and the frivolities of life bled out of him the longer he spent out here in the wilderness, where there was the wind, and the song of his own heart, drumming in his ears. This was his sacrament to Kyne.   

He slowed his pace further the closer he got to the edge of the valley. He didn’t want to risk startling the herd that he suspected was bedded down in the lush grasses. To kill an elk with the bow, he had to get close. Very close. Secondly, he couldn’t make the shot from the side or from behind. The shot had to be made from the front, to take out the lungs, all without the elk seeing him, or it was all over.

Kaidan waited in the thinning trees, trying to study the dark shapes in the field that was the herd of elk. He watched a four-pointer stag stalk, skulk, and eventually chase a cow to the other side of the field. He waited, watching some more. He wanted to take out a stag. Personally, he didn’t like killing cows, but he didn’t feel like he had much of a choice as he began to creep closer.  

The grass was tall, but not tall enough to hide him. He doubled back a few times into the woods, creeping ever closer to a cow that had wandered further away to chew on a crop of mountain flowers. That was when Kaidan made his choice. Using the trees for cover and crawling at one point on his belly, he was in the grasses, edging ever nearer. There was the press of wind against the trees and the hiss of grasses. Kaidan froze. The cow had lifted her head, scenting the air. He snagged an arrow, drew, and fired.

The arrow struck home, right below the neck and square in the breast. The cow stumbled a few feet away, and collapsed with a harsh, desperate cry as it attempted to stand again but slipped. The herd around them scattered. Kaidan finished the elk quickly, and sat, letting his blood cool back down again, and lifted up a prayer to Kyne, thanking her for the successful hunt, before placing the final leaf in the elk’s mouth.

And just as he began to dress the carcass, there was the crunch and snap of foliage nearby. Grabbing his bow, Kaidan startled to his feet. There were a few kinds of people this far out in the woods, but the Legion foresters worried him most of all. Poaching on the jarl’s land carried a heavy sentence throughout Skyrim. If a ranger was about to come through, Kaidan knew there was only one option— Forest law be damned, he was not going to abandon his charge out here to die.

The figures came through. Kaidan counted three of them and none of them looked like Legion foresters, but this still did not comfort him.

One of the hunters leading the trio raised his hand and said, “Kyne’s peace, hunter.”

The greeting surprised him. Kaidan couldn’t remember the last time someone had greeted him in the Old Way. A few times, he had watched Brynjar go through the ritual with other hunters, and the words came to him naturally. “Wind guide you,” he responded.

The other hunter lowered his hand. “And skies guard you,” he said, thus completing the formal greeting.

[funderberker-thefrog]

ok I'm caught on !!! disappointed but not surprised that eursulon and wolf guy didn't fuck BUT ANYWAYS im thinking

so suvi saw hakea become the first witch at the end of a quest???? so MAYBE stations that have been lost could have a new witch still?? wouldn't be an easy process but hey, not impossible it seems !

also this was centuries ago and brennan used the word 'quest' specifically, sooo maybe talking to her we could know more about the times were knights were still around?

all of this is me wishful thinking stuff tho lol but would be very interesting

[calmingram]

Forest Treasures 🍂

I'm an autistic amateur photographer. Follow me on Tumblr and Instagram 📷

[tommyekerchal1973blog]

[busiest-bee]

Ignore the poll if u saw it. I think I figured it out. I’m a genius (lie)

(TGESE ARE CONCEPTS CONCEPTS CONECEPTS) (also this doesn’t include the unicorn and the dragon. The dragon is most important. Very important. :•) I have a bit of a grasp on most of their personalities (the only that’s still kinda Nothing to me is the bear) (also I should mention the names might change)

[herbalnature]

Look at this splendid lion's mane mushroom, just casually hanging out on a decaying log. It's like spotting a little forest treasure on a walk! 🍄✨

[xpl0r]

Magical✨️

[besidethepath]

Walks through fields, forests and wetlands. And every now and then the view upwards ...

[smudgingpumpkins]

03.07.2024

Russula emetica

-Also known as "The Sickener"-

Where: Worldwide, predominately in Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and North America

Grows in both coniferous and mixed woodlands, especially near pines and spruces.

When: July-October

I took this picture myself while roaming around the woods in the South Carolina midlands.

As the nickname suggests, this mushroom is not meant to be eaten. It is not the most toxic or deadly or anything . . . but ingestion can result in nausea, cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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Appearance:

These shrooms can be hard to specifically identify. The most notable trait is its flat or convex, bright red cap, which can become pinkish and sticky when wet. The gills are white and cramped together; and are free, adnexed, or adnate from the stem. This mushroom is very brittle.

Russula emetica has a white and somewhat thick stem that is between 4.5 - 9.5 cm in length.

Taste:

Being dubbed "The Sickener," it is recommended to avoid eating it. Russula emetica can cause gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea but is not considered fatal unless the consumer is immunocompromised.

However, if cooked well, it is said to be rather hot, spicy, and peppery, with a slightly fruity aroma. This mushroom could work well as spices for soups, stews, and goulash!

In fact, Russula emetica used to be commonly eaten in Eastern Europe. The mushroom was consumed after being parboiled and/or pickled.

You should ALWAYS cook wild mushrooms for the safest outcome, even if you are sure the mushrooms you foraged are safe to eat.

Medicinal Use:

Russula mushrooms, or "Brittlegills," generally may harbor anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory properties. To put it simply, research suggests Russula could improve the body's ability to fight infections and diseases.

I cannot find much information for the Russula emetica. Though they can be a good source of calcium, potassium, vitamin C, organic acids, and other minerals.

Of course, mushrooms do not substitute medical attention. Further research is needed, only showing that Russula could help with relieving or preventing disease symptoms.

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**While identifying Russula can be relatively easy, determining the specific species is notoriously difficult. I myself probably misidentified the photo as emetica, but at least the information is interesting enough.

**The photo may instead be the "Beechwood Sickener," or Russula nobilis . . . but regardless, they both have scarlet caps and can make you sick!

**Russula mushrooms can be confused with Amanita mushrooms, particularly if the latter shroom has a red cap.

If you are unsure of the genus of mushroom, look at the stem. Amanitas have bulbous stems whereas the Russula have straight, thick stems. Red Amanitas usually have more rounded caps when mature, as well as white spots all over them, like the classic toadstool. Red Russula shrooms often have flatter caps.

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Also, here is a handy diagram on gill attachment types, which may help identify the Russula! The image was taken from ResearchGate.

[mrteddy1]

The branches look so eatable 🤝

[greenlandfairy]

Still green 💚🌿🌳

🌱🌿☘️

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."

John Muir

[yonderoo]

✨ An Enchanted Presence in the Woodland Realms ✨

Gather 'round, mere mortals, and behold the exquisite essence of the fair folk. This breathtaking fairy is the very embodiment of ethereal grace and primordial wilderness. Her visage is a tranquil blend of mystique and allure, framed by cascading waves of silken tresses that seem to flow like a liquid manifestation of moonlight itself. The subtle luminescence that dances upon her alabaster skin tells tales of ancient magic whispering through the leaves.

Her eyes, deep pools of twilight secrets, capture the haunting beauty of a forest at dusk—a place where shadows entwine with the light in an eternal dance. Crowning her head is an intricate halo of autumnal leaves and delicately perched butterflies, a regal yet understated testament to her harmonious connection with the ever-changing seasons. Each leaf seems to pulse with an otherworldly energy, as if plucked from the very heart of the Enchanted Woodlands.

Her attire, woven from the finest gossamer threads, is adorned with subtle floral patterns that shift and shimmer with her every breath. The ethereal gown clings to her lithe form—an alluring yet modest homage to the natural splendor of her forest domain. A whisper of wind carries the scent of wildflowers and damp earth as if the essence of the forest follows her wherever she roams.

In her presence, the boundary between the mundane and the magical blurs, evoking a sense of wondrous awe and reverent fear. She reminds us that true beauty lies not in perfection but in the harmonious coexistence of vulnerability and power.

🌿✨ May her serene countenance inspire your dreams and her mystical aura envelop your thoughts as you traverse the landscapes of your imagination. ✨🦋