two-colored bolete mushroom bruise

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Forests are such incredible habitats. They support so much biodiversity, help us breathe (because you know, trees...), and provide so many resources. This October, over on my Patre0n, I'll be highlighting this incredible habitat, the animals that thrive in woodlands, and how to protect and enjoy the forest this fall! Read blog posts, get sh0p sale access, explore art, discover more of how the world works with natural science video tutorials, and even snag some themed sticker goodies! Head on over (🔗 in bio) and join the fun!
I love having butterflies, moths, fireflies, dragonflies, birds, and other cool critters in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, this can't happen if old leaves are removed. Leaves provide overwintering habitat for numerous insects (like those moths and butterflies!), which feed birds, amphibians, and other insects. A healthy plant and animal ecosystem absolutely needs those fallen leaves!
It's beginning to look a lot like Acorn Foraging season! Acorns can be soaked to leech out some of their bitter tannins, dried, roasted, then ground down into powder to make acorn flour, which makes them a fun little fall foraging find. You can use that flour to make all sorts of little chips or crackers (don't expect acorn flour to rise well!). I also like to add a smidgen to shortbread cookie recipes to add an earthy flavor, but prefer it as a more savory snack. Also, keep in mind that you need a relatively large amount of acorns to ground down to make even 1 cup of flour!
Galls are some funky things to study and observe while outside. An adult wasp or Midge will lay an egg inside the plant's tissue, which will trigger a rapid hormonal change in the plant. The tissue poofs up and creates a cozy living space for the young, who then emerges later on out of a hole they chew through. These galls can be all sorts of weird shapes and cause the plant to grow so fun! I love Goldenrod Bunch Galls, which cause the bud to erupt into a bajillion leaves, instead of flowers, making a sort of bunched rosette shape at the top point of the stem. In the oak here, we see large lumps forming on the leaves, and even the branches had some swollen nodes!
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