Finding Beauty After the Rain

After three days of gloomy rain, I woke up this morning to sunshine! After Murphy and I finished our usual beach walk, I grabbed my macro lens and headed over to the local woodlands in search of mushrooms.

Delicate mushroom hidden among the leaves and twigs

Yeah, I know... most people probably wouldn't get excited about something as simple as mushrooms. But I was...

Close up of fungi growing in the shaded LI woods

I wasn't disappointed. Tucked away in the shadows were dozens of them—every color, shape, and size you could imagine.

The blue sky peeking through the branches above

Some stood proudly on fallen logs, while others seemed to peek out from beneath the leaves, as if hoping not to be noticed.

Orange mushrooms emerging from the damp woodland floor after several days of rain

Of course, it appeared the local critters had the same idea I did, because quite a few had already been sampled and were missing a bite or two.

Showing signs of forest critters haven taken a bite

It's funny how a little sunshine after days of rain can completely change your outlook.

We all can't be perfect

What started as an ordinary morning turned into a quiet treasure hunt, reminding me once again that some of nature's most fascinating subjects aren't the grand landscapes or dramatic sunsets.

Morning sunlight filtering through the trees

Sometimes they're only an inch tall, hiding in the damp forest floor, just waiting for someone to slow down long enough to notice.

Pink mushroom?

I hope you enjoy these tiny woodland characters as much as I enjoyed finding them.