Dead Man's Fingers

Just like the previous unexpected discovery of mushrooms, I stumbled upon these without any intention of seeking them out. In fact, they were quite close to where I found mushrooms before, nestled within the bushes. These mushrooms didn't stand out much due to their color blending with the surroundings, which is why I hadn't noticed them earlier.

I came across these dead man's fingers while preparing to fish by a small riverbank near the bushes where I had been scavenging for wood earlier. Despite these mushrooms being right beside me as I fished, I didn't actually notice them until I placed my bait near the decaying wood. I spotted something peculiar atop the wood, seemingly emerging from within. Now I understand why they're called Dead Man's Fingers; they truly resemble someone's fingers emerging from the earth. Upon closer inspection, they even appeared to have nails at the tips. Quite fascinating!

Some of the mushrooms I found still looked fresh with a light brown color resembling fingers. However, one mushroom stood out among the rest, larger in size. It was darker and longer, with a somewhat eerie appearance akin to dried-out fingers, possessing a rougher texture. If the younger mushrooms were the size of pinkies, this older one was as big as an index finger, even larger at the base.

It turns out, there's quite a variety of mushrooms growing behind my house this month. I'm still unsure if there are any other types I haven't seen or discovered yet. The rain has provided ample opportunity for mushrooms to thrive.

As I walked back home after catching two small fish, I paused to observe the colors on the ground. And behold, the tiny Waxcap mushrooms have reappeared in the same spot as before. If Dead Man's Fingers seemed eerie, these mushrooms look so tiny and innocent.

If you zoom in, they look so cool with their red caps, but wait until you see them from a different angle. They're no different than tiny matchsticks standing upright. Haha, they're so adorable.

That's all I can share for today. I hope to stumble upon more mushrooms soon. Thank you for your time.

All images were taken by me using the Google Pixel 3A camera.