lbennett's Journal

For this week's theme of fungi I walked around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. The weather was fairly warm for an October day and it was somewhat cloudy. Since fungi are decomposers I searched for them on ill or deceased trees and plants. I looked at various tree stumps, logs, and piles of leaves searching for fungi. I happened to notice some kind of bright yellow mushroom high up in a tree which the app identified as Fried Chicken Mushroom or Lyophyllum decastes. I found this very interesting because I have never seen this in person before. I also found what looked like a white mold on a dead life which iNaturalist identified as Powdery Mildews. I observed other fungi growing on dead plants. I enjoyed seeing various fungi right in a local park.

Over fall break I went for a walk on a trail in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The weather was a little chilly, but sunny. Most of the leaves of trees had begun changing colors or falling. I observed many different types of plants. Most of the plants I saw on my walk were vascular plants. I observed two types of plants with larger, green leaves. iNaturalist identified them as being Amphicarpaea and American Beech, or Fagus grandifolia. I also observed long grass like plants that iNaturalist identified as Bedstraws. Another plant I observed had small red berries on it and it was identified as Barberries. I enjoyed this walk and observing all of the different plants in the area.