A Surprising Encounter in the Garden

It was a bright and sunny spring afternoon, the kind of day that naturally draws you outside. I decided to take a slow walk around the garden, enjoying the warm sunlight and the subtle scent of wildflowers carried by the breeze. As I wandered among the greenery, my eyes caught sight of something unusual pushing up through the soil near the thistles. At first glance, I wasn’t quite sure what it was — it looked like a small, oddly shaped tower, glistening slightly in the sun.

Curious, I bent down for a closer look. The object stood tall and pale, with a smooth, slightly slimy cap that seemed to melt into shaggy-looking lines. It looked almost alien against the backdrop of green leaves and dry twigs. I had never seen anything like it in my garden before. Intrigued, I took a photo and went back inside to do a bit of research.

A few minutes online led me to discover that I had just encountered a Coprinus comatus, commonly known as the shaggy ink cap or lawyer’s wig. I learned that it's part of the ink cap family of mushrooms, named for their unique trait: as they mature, their caps begin to dissolve into a black, inky liquid. It was fascinating to learn that they’re not only interesting in appearance, but also edible — at least while they are young and before the liquefaction process begins.

Finding this mushroom was a small but memorable moment. It reminded me of how nature often surprises us when we take the time to observe it closely. What seemed like just another afternoon in the garden turned into a brief encounter with a curious and mysterious species I had never noticed before. And just like that, the humble ink cap mushroom became a symbol of unexpected wonder right in my own backyard.

Thanks for this platform to #Ecency and #Hive

Also #HiveGarden very succesful about garden sharings..

I took all photos...