A rush of fungus and slime molds were scattered around the Parkland. Some of them known, some I have learned to know and some remain a secret.Several guides fail to help identification and I believe that this has a purpose.
There are quite a few that are edible, even described as edible and good, but, for me, many of them carry an unwritten warning that shout death. And that I feel is why the guides do not make identification easy. Even an expert can be taken in by the subtle way some carry imitation to a fatal extent.
The stag and his coterie are enjoying the still mild weather. Close to the Rotunda, he bells on seeing you and lets you approach quite closely, before he casually wanders down his line of females, encouraging them away to the shelter of trees. No panic, no rush, just a gentle stroll amongst them to start the movement. Young males keep a safe distance of course, perhaps some fifty metres or so but still in the line of vision of the stag. Just enough, perhaps, to post a warning.
The trees still carry quite a covering of leaves, as the wind has remained quite gentle. Looking down the Parkland from the house towards the Serpentine, no gale force winds have yet occurred to strip the branches naked. But the whole place has the feel of autumn moving to winter; the colours fade, the mist hangs around and the air is cooler.The clocks have been reset to GMT and the afternoon patrols run into the darkening hours and towards the month end the temperature were beginning to dip.
