Let Me Ask About This

We’re back on Skidaway Island, dog sitting and dog walking lovely, energetic Coastal. Neal and I follow along, and the streets give me plenty to look at. Who could miss those massive old live oaks with Spanish moss draping from their branches. This one deserved a closer inspection. The pale growth stood out against that rough bark, and I began wondering what, exactly, had made a home there. A few photographs first… then I could ask.

I inquired with Siri and my iNaturalist app, my knowledge resources. Both pointed me toward bracket fungi, also called shelf fungi. Well, that second name made sense as soon as I looked back at the photographs! It gave me somewhere to begin, even if I didn’t yet have a specific name for this one. And my thought that it must have been there for ages? I’ll leave that as a question. I had enough information to get curious, which is usually when the photographs start multiplying.

Before we leave this tree, come around it with me through the photographs. The palm fronds cross the view from one side; from another, the pale shelves stand clear of them. I wanted to see how the growth met the bark and what those uneven edges looked like from below. You can probably see why this was taking me a while.

Around Those Ruffled Edges

First, the view through the palm fronds, then a clearer look at where the fungi sit in the trunk.

Now look from below, then step back far enough to include the broken branch above.

That last view brings a bit more of the tree’s history into the frame. “Anytime today!”, Neal calls out. I still have questions, but I think my fellow walkers have waited long enough.

Coastal Has Plans

“Ok, I confess! My photo quest for this tree and its fungi companion has hijacked the morning’s plans.”

Yes, Coastal! Nature is calling, and I have held up the morning routine long enough.

Neal and I are coming… and thanks to your choice of route, I have a Friday Fungi post to start.