Tiny golden-orange parasols appeared in the woodland edges and my raised bed garden near the woods after our most recent rainstorm.  Mushrooms of the genus Parasola that is! These Fairy Parasols, as they are commonly called, are dainty. The caps are no larger than a penny and are atop slender stems no longer than 2-1/2 inches.

Identifying Parasola mushrooms to the species level requires a microscope and expertise I have yet to attain. They may be Parasola kuehnerii, known for its orange-brown color and affinity for woodland edges. Parasola plicatilis is a transient species that inhabits grasslands and is known for appearing suddenly after a rain, maturing, releasing spores, and just as quickly disappearing – often within twenty-four hours. Whatever they are, the fun for me is always in the observing. I'll take joy in checking in on them every day ot see how they are growing and changing as they progress through their lifecycle and watch for signs of other creatures visiting as well.

Enjoy the mushroom season and check out these fungi resources:

• iNaturalist Guide to Fungi of Northern Maine
• Maine Mycological Association
• Nature Note 98: The Fungus Among Us - Mushrooms