Moving On

The appearance of different plants marks the moving on of the season; the same with other organisms. Once Tawny Grisette comes along I always feel that the next step will take us closer to autumn. Yet sunrise remains about 5.30.

Tawny Grisette is now all over the birch woodland coming up before the Brown RollRim which shares its habitat.

The newly emerged grisette has a resplendent glossy cap which dulls as it enlarges and changes shape, often splitting. Lots of them around and difficult to miss just now;  a member of the notorious amanita family of fungi although arguably harmless unlike its close relatives and some lookalikes. So we don't sample it.

Another characteristic plant of the mid August period is Mugwort.

This is one of those plants that has been tried for various medicinal purposes over many centuries and many cultures. One that may be worth trying is its use at one time for repelling insects. Could be an alternative to waving away midges with a fern?