I like Fungi

Confession Bell article by Earl Plato

Fungi Finds: I have four beautifully coloured fungi photos on my walls. The late nature photographer John Lessle from Buffalo, New York photographed all of these in Marcy Woods. I confess that I love mushrooms. We went on a walk in Marcy Woods a past spring and found different mushrooms (fungi). An expert on mushrooms led us. The late Dr. Robert Fisher PhD. of St. Catharines was our guide. Bob and his associate Eira Voth were scientists with a precise knowledge of fungi. By 10 a.m. we had signed in at Dr. Marcy’s farm and headed for the Woods. It was damp and ideal for mushroom growth. This was a three hour ramble of “find, stop, inspect, discuss, and preserve”. We found 39 fungi species. Dr. Fisher said excitedly four were new finds for him! Photos were taken of our finds. The following Monday night Bob Fisher was our guest speaker at the Bert Miller Nature Club. His slide show and his displays of fungi were outstanding. He again pointed to the danger of eating just any mushroom. Some of his examples were that of the Amanita Genus that are deadly poisonous. Bob Fisher was an accomplished nature artist and had shows throughout the Niagara peninsula. He had two of his great mushroom paintings there. Wonderful detail. Another area naturalist who will be missed.
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On the Trail - Keith Bailey of Crescent Park on his daily walks on the Friendship Trail sees a pair of white-tailed deer. We walked to Six Mile Creek bridge on the Trail and saw a little mud turtle paddling away. To the south were a pair of mallards. Then all three of us saw a water snake swimming swiftly across the creek. A few minutes later wife, Elaine, spotted an even larger water snake also swimming from the east bank to the west side. What do you know about the Eastern water snake? They are non-venomous but ugly looking serpents. Wait! I handled one at the Ridge Fest on July 5th . Rob Eberly of the Bert Miller Nature Club said, “Want to handle one, Earl?“ I did. There not so ugly after all! Check them out on the internet then go to Six Mile Creek this early summer and try to see one, eh.

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