Forest scenes and senses from the Tsitsikamma

The Tsitsikamma is famous for its stunning scenery, magnificent forests and exciting adventures. I often wonder how many people visit here and marvel at the big things but totally miss the little ones. Ferns with new leaves opening up, soft moss growing on a rock, bracket fungus on the side of a log, the sound … Continue reading Forest scenes and senses from the Tsitsikamma →

Brown bracket

Although orange bracket fungus are easily spotted in the indigenous forests of the Tsitsikamma there are a number of less brightly coloured bracket fungus that can be spotted growing on mostly dead trees as well. In this case I found this branch full of a light brown bracket. Its because of things like these that … Continue reading Brown bracket →

Orange bracket fungus

Walking through the Tsitsikamma forest you see shades of green, brown and grey, but every now and then there is a bright flash. The red from under the wing of a Knysna Loerie gliding from branch to branch, a tiny colourful flower or an orange bracket fungus growing on a piece of dead wood.

Moss and mushroom

Hyobanche sanguina

I get very excited when I find something new and hiking along the Guinea Fowl Trail in Port Elizabeth the other day was one of those exciting days. I saw Hyobanche Sanguina, commonly known as Cat's Paw, for the first time. Cat's Paw is a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of shrubs. The clustered red … Continue reading Hyobanche sanguina →

Edible bracket fungus

I just can't seem to walk past a mushroom or bracket fungus (or a great number of other things for that matter) without stopping for a photo. This was the case again the other day and I am sure will be the case again many times in the future.From previous research (and nobody has told … Continue reading Edible bracket fungus →

Bracket Fungus

I normaly walk around with one eye looking out for a nice landscape and my other one scanning the ground for the little things. Mushrooms and fungi tends to often make for interesting photographs. This bracket fungus presented itself on the trail in the Maitland Nature Reserve.

Fungus scales

The Funnel Woodcap fungi on this tree makes it look like it has scales

Forest fairy realm

This scene presented itself to me while exploring the Knysna forests and I just had to take a photo of it. Looking it it and then closing my eyes I can imagine being in the forest. The shades of green and brown all around, the moist forest smell, the cool forest air on my face, the … Continue reading Forest fairy realm →

Collection of little mushrooms

I found this collection of tiny little mushrooms in the Drakensberg early in the year. I haven't been able to find anything on them in my nature books though. You can see in the second photo it looks like some of them have "opened up" as can be seen from the broken edges. Actually makes … Continue reading Collection of little mushrooms →