Well boy howdy, who knew mushrooms were so darn interesting??  I did not.  To be honest, the first time I decided to take myself on out to the Mount Pisgah Mushroom Festival a few years ago, I thought well OK, it's something to do but what's the big deal?  But good-heavens-good-gracious-good-golly I was wrong about that!  It is a beautiful and fascinating array that educates while it wows and entertains. The variety of species is remarkable, the colors and shapes and details a true delight.  If you are local and have never been, you must go in the future!  You must!

Like the Wildflower Festival in the Spring, there are tables and tables feet-upon-feet-upon-feet long all loaded up with amazing displays of nature's bounty: 'shrooms this time, collected by the mycologically knowledgable, and arranged beautifully amid mosses and branches and the odd skull or two.  

Alas, I did not get to see much in the way of the display this time, so the mushroom-diaplay photos are from 2015.  I was busy all day womaning my art-vendor booth, where I sold art prints and cards and stickers, and the first design in my new line of t-shirts.  It was great fun once again to get to meet all y'all who dropped through.  I enjoyed chatting about art and nature and all manner of things.  Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Arboretum, and also my art!  (I am happy to say that 20% of my gross sales for the day went to support the Arboretum.)

Thanks again as well to all my supportive friends, especially the talented Kimberly Munn, who helped me out during the Festival.  In addition to being a highly skilled jeweler, she is a very fine photographer, and took the photo of me with my booth.  (Don't hold her responsible for the other pictures, tho... any she took would undoubtedly be much better!)  You can find her elegant, hand-made artisan jewelry at her Etsy shop, Revelling.