I spent some time today in a “Fairy Ring” in the forest. While on our Sunday wander today we found what for me has always been the Holy Grail of mushrooms, the Red Fly mushroom. This beautiful red capped mushroom fueled many of my childhood dreams of Germany and it’s Fairy filled forests.
Once many years ago I tripped over a log on a hike and fell face first on the ground in front of one of these beauties and I have held onto the memory of that discovery since that day. So much so that each year during the Christmas season I try to buy a new Christmas ornament in the shape of this vibrantly colored fungus for my Christmas tree. In many of the German folk stories and Fairy tales these red caps dot their illustrations. Thought of as a good luck bringer in many European cultures.
Today, my husbands keen eye caught a ring of them just off the path we were traveling on. I can not even express my joy in finding this Fairy Ring. They were even more beautiful than in my imagination.
If you are interested in reading more about the Red Fly mushroom here are some great links:
http://www.superiorconcept.org/Firstnight/germany.htm
http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5517~source~gallerychooserresult.asp
by lthek
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