FUNGI



LACTARIUS INDIGO

A beautiful array of these growing beneath our pine stand...
the blue color is really beautiful



and can be seen here on the stem

not far from the blue fungi are several bright yellow ones nestled on the pine floor...

and below, my zinnias have been spectacular this year, and this is one of several that I found that appear to have died and then grown a new, smaller flower in the dead center.  This seems perfectly amazing to me, and quite lovely.

This spring/summer has in some respects flown by, and in others it has plodded along accompanied by countless prayers and strong good thoughts for Andy's recovery.  Despite the worry and concern, nature's abundance and beauty have sustained me and given me strength.  The garden's bounty is lessening, but continues to yeild greens, flowers, radishes, and even tomatoes.  (Suspected 35 degrees tonight, which at our location will surely be lower, may put an end to that.  I will cover basil, some flowes, swiss chard and some other items, however.)

On another note, the annual Kickapoo Valley Reserve's Pasta Supper is this coming Friday night.  I made 16 ice cream buckets of meat sauce (meatballs, pork, sausage and beef, all shredded in sauce) two buckets of fresh roasted tomato meatless sauce, and 30 loaves of bread.  This is a huge event, it is fun, and as always I wish my father, the ultimate cook, could be here to work alongside of me.

May this autumn be as beautiful for all of you as it is here in Wisconsin.