Welcome to the magical kingdom of fungi. Distinct in the circle of life, it has been said that for every one species of green plant, there are six species of fungi. In our own back yard, the diversity of these fruiting organisms are, to say the least, an impressive sight. From gourmet to deadly, these woodland dwellers lurk in just about every nook and cranny available. And with plentituful amounts of late summer moisture, mushroon season is on. Here’s a look at an afternoon jaunt up a nearby trail, revealing a staggering stash of pathside goodies.

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  The elegant gills of a mushroom are important for species identification.

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  Chanterelle mushrooms: nuggets of pure gold.

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  The big payoff: loads of gourmet fungus.

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  A small colony of mushrooms thrives on a mossy log.

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  The aptly named coral fungi.