As I was walking along one of the trails recently at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, my eyes were drawn to the bright orange of a patch of fungus. Orange is one of the colors that I tend to associate with autumn and with holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, so I was feeling very seasonal. I do not know my fungi very well, but I think that this might be Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus).
From what I have read, this mushroom can be used as a substitute for chicken and can be sautéed, deep fried, baked, and used in soups. I prefer to enjoy its beauty with my eyes only—the consequences of eating the wrong mushroom can be pretty dire.
The third image gives you an overall view of the mushroom “patch.” However, I had a macro lens on my camera, so I had fun exploring the different elements of the scene. The first image reminds me of Halloween candy corn, a traditional candy that most people either love or hate. In the second image, I was attracted to the circular rows of water droplets that paralleled the rings of colors of the mushroom.
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Mike Powell 
Today’s candy corn is bad, but years ago it was much tastier; I suspect the ingredients have been changed. Still, given a choice between candy corn and chicken of the woods, I’ll take the candy corn. I do like that second photo. It looks like the skirt of a dancer.
Your comments on candy corn confirm my own–I remember it being softer and more flavorful. Maybe there are more preservatives than before. Of course, it is also possible that my tastes have changed. I remember how I used to like the orange circus peanuts, but now find the texture to be a little repulsive.
I suspect it might be the substitution of corn syrup for cane sugar. If you can find packages that have the corn mixed with pumpkins, ears of corn, and such, some of those still are made with sugar, and taste like the old-fashioned ones.
Thanks for the tip. I may have to start checking the labels to see if I can find some of the “old-fashioned” ones and do my own taste test. 🙂
That first image did make me think of candy corn 🙂
Fairly new subscriber to your blog Mike – and enjoy reading it daily. Thanks for sharing your outings. Yep, first one definitely candy corn. Now circus peanuts – didn’t like them as a kid at all, but candy corn something else again.
Great images. Ev
P.S. I appreciate you offering the RSS feed option.
Thanks, Ev, for subscribing and for commenting. I try to post almost every day and if your have read more than a few postings, you have a feel for my approach. My blog style tends to be a reflection of my personality. I am innately curious and energetic and love to discover things. I enjoy sharing my discoveries through my photos and my words in an effort to help people see their own worlds with different eyes. As for candy corn, I am going to have to get some and see what I think–it has been years since I have eaten any.
YUM
Wow! It’s beautiful! You find great things exploring the woods!
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Nice mushoom with wonderfull colors. Here in Belgium it is not allowed to collect mushrooms, because all sorts are protected. We only eat mushrooms that are gown for consumption.
I am not all that fond of Candy Corn, but love your illustration. The first picture is awesome! It just confirmed more though I really don’t like Candy Corn. As you said most either love, or hate it. Great share!
I don’t usually like pics of mushrooms but these pictures are pretty! 🙂 And maybe its because I like Candy Corn. LOL!
That sure does look like chicken of the woods. I didn’t know they sweat like that but I have seen other fungi do it. Nice shots!
Thanks. I don’t know for sure if the drops were sweat or were from precipitation, but they sure were cool to photograph.
It does look like candy corn. 🙂 I can’t believe how much sugar we ate as kids, geesh, it’s a wonder we have any teeth left!
🙂
Although I also don’t forage, it is always a pleasure to come across these beautiful fungi. I like the second especially with all the water drops.I know of one bracket mushroom, the red-banded polypore, that sweats profusely but haven’t seen chicken of the woods do that.
I am with you, Steve, when it comes to beauty vs eating. I really couldn’t tell if the mushroom was sweating or it it was dew. The pattern of the drops looked so regular that it made me wonder about the cause of them.
I found a huge chicken of the woods in the botanical garden – off limits for eating.
The one that I photographed was in a wildlife refuge where foraging also is not permitted.
👍🍄
Great images Mike… one of these reminds me of the dress of flamenco dancers! I love foraging, having learnt about a few edible species from my parents as a kid, but I have never seen these!
Thanks, Chris. Comments from readers have noted different policies in different countries regarding foraging. I took the photos in a wildlife refuge in which foraging is prohibited, but there are many wide open spaces in the US where it would be allowed. As for the flamenco dancer skirt–I can see how the image brought it to mind for you.
I can certainly see the candy corn resemblance, and I remember them well from childhood, but my first random thought was–and no excuses here–the hooves of little cartoon ponies, easing their way out of the cave. I suppose it reflects on spending lots of time with grandchildren aged seven and under. And your second photo is a wonderful abstract.
Thanks, Gary. I must admit that cartoon ponies did not come to mind–maybe unicorns in this case. 🙂 I am glad you liked the second shot. It is the kind of cool close-up shot that I really like to take. It causes a viewer to stop for a moment, not really sure what the subject is.
The colours are quite something, Mike! Lovely photos. I really like the close-up with the dew drops.
Thanks, Pete. I was most drawn to shooting that close-up, bu figured it would be good to give readers some additional views of the mushroom.
Wonderful, though like you, do not really want to eat it! The candy corn on the other hand, YEP!!
So many folks, including you, Molly, have weighed in on candy corn that I may have to try it again–I think it’s been quite a few years since I last had some.
Funky fungi 👏👏
It’s favorite dance, of course, would have to be the Funky Chicken, a dance that came a bit before your time, Damien. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lCI63H1neY)