Zeller's Bolete is a mushroom of fall in the Pacific Northwest. Habitat is old growth/mature forest (conifer/deciduous). Found on/around decaying wood, usually moss covered. Even with the blood red stem can be hard to see amongst debris of forest floor...finding challenge of all fungi, it's fun😊

Be looking for Cortinarius #mushrooms now. You'll be rewarded with hues of purple, blue, orange and brown. Look for telltale signs of ID via silk-like fibers on stem/stipe that usually have an orange spore coating. Get outside with this discovery in mind; it's a blast!

Felon-in-Chief lied (repeatedly) about WH East Wing and his King status. Unilaterally demolishing "Peoples House" for a homongous, gaudy, vain ballroom. Similar destruction being applied to Medicaid, Medicare, healthcare and system of tariffs (soybeans, beef, food prices). Wake up America!!!!

This tooth fungi looks dangerous, unappetizing. In reality Comb Hericium has been described by Arora (1986) as "edible and delicious when cooked slowly". Found growing on hardwood trees across North America.

Composite image for mushroom finding practice. Perfect example of how perspective (right image = couple of steps to left) and mental search image can lead to discovery of four shrooms. Mushroom identity = one of the Suillus genus (didn't check the stipe to clinch ID). 😊

Attended No Kings @ Missoula, MT (drive.google.com/file/d/1aE91...) It felt good and empowering. Narrative from Martin Kidston of Missoula Current (missoulacurrent.com/no-kings-mis...). Nice boost for the spirit, but the challenge isn't over. Stay involved.

I found this small shelf fungi on a downed conifer trunk. Conifer Mazegill is notable for its' gills that are maze-like in form. Many shelf fungi have pores/tubes instead of gills. For sure that is interesting, but the colors aint bad either for attracting an eye.

One of the most colorful group of fall mushrooms are members of the Cortinarius genus. 204 species in Pacific Northwest (burkeherbarium.org/imagecollect...). Lilac Cort, pictured, is nestled in moss, bunchberry and bearberry.

Now encountering this mushroom regularly, though not in large numbers. Hollow-stalked Larch Jack looks like a craft creation using felt. The texture quite unlike store bought button mushrooms. Found wherever Larch are growing, mycorrhizal.

Protest and freedom of speech are not forms of terrorism or hating on America contrary to Republican propoganda. America are you going to let them take away your voice, your healthcare, your freedoms? Show up at No Kings protest march. Make your feelings known; share your values with millions.

Mushrooms that may be in your yard if you have stumps with intact tree roots. Found this large grouping of Alcohol Inky Cap on Cottonwood stump. Literature full of warnings; do not eat if you have drank alcohol within 48 hrs of doing so. Shroom prevents breakdown of alcohol, nasty body reactions.

Faded Orange Sulphur taking nectar from Mexican Sunflower. Captured this image with 1st DSLR bought (2010), Canon Rebel T1i. Working outside in yard, spied #butterfly, ran into house and grabbed closest camera. Slowed down for close approach and focus...any camera can produce voila, success 👍😊

Almost walked by a couple of Plums and Custard mushrooms. Growing out of a downed conifer trunk. Common, though not in large numbers, in the Pacific Northwest especially during cool weather of late fall (Arora 1986). Colors do match up with plums and custard 👍😊

With the recent rains fungi starting to appear. Pictured is my macro rig in action focused on a Russula mushroom. We're in a drought so am going out everyday to capture whatever shows, you too?

Composite image of Gray-veiled Amanita. Left image taken 9-30; right image of same two shrooms 4 days later. Found in duff of old growth conifer. Statuesque, yes?

Some fall colors from Common Snowberry found in conifer forest understory. Widespread across US and Canada. White berries reported to have a strong unpleasant odor.

Rosy Gomphidius is a common #mushroom near Douglas Fir trees. Siegel and Schwartz (2024) report finding it near another mushroom, Suillus lakeii. Though beautifully colored, "slimy" describes this mushroom most of the time. Found in the mountains (American West) July to September.

Pictured is Tamarack Jack with a partially intact partial veil. Veil forms a ring around the stem. Initially veil connects to the cap margin and 2/3 up the stipe/stem. Veil eventually tears with mushroom growth. Sometimes leaving material on cap margin and as a ring around the stem. Review photo.

Mushroom season progressing. Like anything a fine eye is required. Can you spot the emerging Russula mushroom (right image) from eye height in the left image? David Arora (1986) coined the term "mushrump", a descriptor for a mushroom breaking ground 😊

Vermilion or Miniature Waxcap (Arora 1986) is a small waxcap found in forest duff, mossy soil of deep shaded woodland. Fruits fall and winter on west coast and only June into October in eastern U.S. Several other small waxcaps very similar in looks. Considered locally common.

Close-up photo of a female Striped Meadowhawk. Close approach possible with cooler temps of late summer, early fall i.e. dragonflies not as active in temperate areas of the country. Look for in the American West occupying a variety of wetlands with a sedge fringe (DuBois 2010).

Time of the year to fatten up. Especially true for bears. If you are out and about in the woods pay attention to what is on the ground. Happened on half-eaten rose hips from Woods' Rose. These fruits are central to many a bear bulking up for winter. No did not encounter the forager :-) Carry spray!

"One of the latest dragonflies of autumn" (DuBois 2010). Should add the adjective colorful too. Leading edge of the wings are an orange-yellow color, right in the range of 'saffron' on a color wheel. Odonates definitely becoming less numerous over the last couple of weeks. Glad to photograph some.

Freedom of the Press? Administration announces another requirement (www.npr.org/2025/09/20/g...) to shut down the flow of information regarding what our government is doing. Blocking transparency can only mean they wish to hide what they are doing. America, this okay with you?

Family of Common Merganser (note the juveniles, look for white dash above gape [Stokes 2010]) cross my path at Lolo Creek Campground bridge. Always amazed that this large waterbird nests along shallow wooded creeks. Lots of cool birds to find in current fall migration 🦤😊

This is an evergreen shrub found in the American West. Not related to grape, member of Barberry family. Berries can be eaten though described as tart, sour. Recipes online. Common from low to high elevations in brushy, grassy and forested habitats.

Images of Sticky Bolete mushroom with dark fibrillose scaling embedded in a Google Vid (youtu.be/02bjF9wmjX4). Most images in field guides and the literature have a cap grayish or yellowish-brown unmarked cap. Reference material if you encounter this mushroom in the Pacific Northwest 😊

Powerful new study tracing insect decline to climate change www.npr.org/2025/09/12/n...

I don't mind Red Squirrels watching me; I wonder what they are thinking 🤔 Maybe @pavlovcat.bsky.social (Kate, Queen of the Squirrels 👩‍🎓) can explain 😊 Any walk in a western U.S. conifer forest and you will be greeted by this small mammal. May your path intersect with their entertainment.

Few mushrooms on the landscape, drought conditions. Did find this singleton. Can't really say exactly what species this is outside of describing it as a Lepiotoid mushroom. Michael Kuo (mushroomexpert.com) sums it up "identifying lepiotoid mushrooms is usually a challenge."

This Dusky Grouse put on a show (leisurely in movement) going up steep slope disappearing in the dark coniferous forest. Shot pics from inside car and front window. This #bird is uncommon across its range of Rocky Mountain States.

Review below the case for keeping the Roadless Act intact. If you agree, please make an official comment making your feelings known. Thank you 😊 www.npca.org/articles/104...

#Mushrooms have cool names and looks. Pictured is Tamarack Jack mycorrhizal with Larch in North America and Europe. Now's a good time to look for. Easy ID, look for reddish-brown cap with thin yellow cap edge. Chicagoland learn more: news.wttw.com/2025/08/27/c...

Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus) on dogwood. Flushed from moist soil. Was taking in essential minerals, salts, and amino acids for usage during local winter hibernation. That's right this #butterfly will survive winter and become active come May 2026. Spring video: www.youtube.com/shorts/wsbfo...

Ran into several California Tortoiseshell using drying puddles on gravel road. Most unusual for individual to cooperatively stay in same spot while slowly flapping wings. Entirely different color/pattern between two wing surfaces. These #butterflies will overwinter as adults!

With the onset of late summer/early fall #mushroom season begins. Pictured is Grayish Larch Bolete. It's associated (mycorrhizal) with Larch. Common in spring and late summer/early fall in the Pacific Northwest. Cap can approach five inches in diameter.

Encountered 20+ Mylitta Crescent at Maclay Flat (USFS - Missoula, MT) today utilizing habitat parallel to a irrigation ditch cutting through Forest Service property. Easy to detect the small ball of fire (wingspan of about 1.5 inches) perched and in "low erratic flight" (Pyle 2002).

Happy #LaborDay everybody. You have made the country great thanks to your time and efforts👍 Poster provided by Gemini 2.5 pro

A case for keeping our National Forests undeveloped: Roadless Rule protects US wildlands, Croatan National Forest coastalreview.org/2025/08/road...

Montana, you okay with removing protections for 6.4 million acres of national forest land? Who do you think will profit from this...you the common man or crony capitalists? dailymontanan.com/2025/08/28/f...

You made it past hump day...you should now be flying high, analogous to the pictured #dragonfly, with an eye to the upcoming holiday weekend 😊 #ArtInvertChallenge

Late summer #butterflies can show signs of wear/tear and in this case faded/washed out coloration. The left image below illustrates a faded individual. However, underlying pattern still seen with concentration. Compare with fresh individual from early summer (image on right).

Went to Lolo Pass (Bitterroot Mountains - elevation 5233 feet) for late flowers and #butterflies yesterday. Wasn't disappointed. Photographed several Mormon Fritillary using Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe, non-native species) growing in a mountain meadow. Smallest greater fritillary at 2 inches.

It's sunny/95 F outside. The #dragonfly pictured is coping by hunting in the shade. And no, it is not black due to extreme sun exposure. More likely color plays a part surviving cooler temps of fall. Male Black Meadowhawk pictured, females have more black replaced with yellow. #ArtInvertChallenge

Been dry, but managed to locate a single Western Painted Suillus in shaded, moist depression, old growth Douglas Fir stand. Made my search efforts totally worthwhile...discovery released dopamine (produces a pleasant feeling, a reward system from the brain needing new information [Google AI mode]).

Life is art...shrub steppe habitat in western Montana late summer

Grand Fir cones: "borne at the tops of trees (can reach 50 meter height) and disintegrate in place, so they are rarely seen unless cut by squirrels" (Lesica 2017). Pictured on ground, may be the result of recent high winds instead of squirrels :-)

The only place you should be seeing red is at your favorite wetland. And Cherry-faced Meadowhawk is one of several male meadowhawk #dragonfly species colored so. Not large, only an inch and quarter on average in length. Seen in northern half of U.S./southern Canada now into October.

Worried that AI is going to replace you or whatever your expertise? Read this take from Tom May of Creative Boom (www.creativeboom.com/tips/how-cre...) "AI may know basic facts like "red means luck in China but danger in the West". But it lacks deeper local knowledge, an appreciation of subtlety"

Callippe Fritillary taking nectar from Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium). A truly #stunday (many on many) can be had if primo conditions (climate) for both this #butterfly and #wildflower are met during June/July in the American West.