The rain has been pouring around the Cotswolds for the last few days, with hardly any sun. Today, a bit of sunshine shone through my window and inspired me to go for a stroll.
I love autumn walks, especially when the sun hits all those colorful, bright orange leaves.
On my walk to the woods, I found this beautiful family of Shaggy Parasol mushrooms, leaning against each other.
And a few more I spotted as the sun shone on them, as if guiding me to them.
These mushrooms can look a little intimidating at first because of their scabby-looking caps.
At first, I didn't want to touch them, but after appreciating their beauty and knowing that they are edible, I comfortably picked a few.
The stem of shaggy parasol is tall and has a shaggy texture, similar to the cap. The older ones have a ring that may be loose and movable up and down the stem. It is very rounded and chunky at the base.
If you plan on picking them, make sure they are not the false parasol, as it can make you very sick. Fortunately, the false parasol is not deadly. The key factor in differentiating the two is that the shaggy parasol has a white spore print, while the false parasol has a green spore print.
They love to grow in grassy areas, lawns, meadows, and other open spaces.
I found these mushrooms in this area full of fallen leaves.
Apart from the shaggy parasol, I also spotted these little ones called Candlesnuff fungus.
And also this Red-edge Brittlestem. Nature really has a way of showcasing its wonders in various forms.
Then we happily walked home. The road was drying. It was a lovely stroll.
Heart content with a little basket filled with shaggy parasol mushrooms.
Have wonderful day everyone! Thank you for reading.
Mariah 🍄