For All You Mycologists Out There

The Elf and the Dormouse

UNDER a toadstool crept a wee Elf,
Out of the rain to shelter himself.
Under the toadstool, sound asleep,
Sat a big Dormouse all in a heap.
Trembled the wee Elf, frightened and yet	5
Fearing to fly away lest he get wet.
To the next shelter—maybe a mile!
Sudden the wee Elf smiled a wee smile.
Tugged till the toadstool toppled in two.
Holding it over him, gaily he flew.	10
Soon he was safe home, dry as could be.
Soon woke the Dormouse—"Good gracious me!
"Where is my toadstool?" loud he lamented.
—And that's how umbrellas first were invented. Oliver Herford

Last Monday HWNSNBP and I took a bike ride on the bike path in Barnegat.  I was reminded of the poem above that I had memorized as a child.  These are pictures of mushrooms that we saw growing along the pathway.  I don't know much about mushrooms, but these all appeared to be different, or at least in different stages of growth and they were fairly large as we were able to see them while pedaling.  I imagine that there were other smaller varieties too.