Fairy Circles

On this magical New Years Eve my mind wanders to a circle of fungi that until recently could be viewed in the grass in front of my house - my own Fairy Circle.

Now that a sprinkling snow has arrived why has the fungi vanished?   This distinct ring of toadstools arrived in October, disappeared in December.   Was it Mr. Pheasant who, with his hareem, regularly pecks away at the sward?
 

Maybe the frosts eat away the fungi?   Toadstools and mushrooms have survival structures to withstand harsh weather conditions.   Perhaps an elf took away my fairy ring?   

Today in bright sunlight when snowfall has obliterated the grass, I look at many Beatrix Potter's illustrations to see whether she drew toadstools in snow.   

A captivating collection of 250 illustrations by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) can be found at the Armitt Museum and Library in Ambleside, Cumbria.   Today I look online at www.armitt.com .  Exquisite botanical drawings and water colours tell the story of an entrepreneur, farmer, conservationist and amateur scientist. 


 

Illustrations by Beatrix Potter, Mycologist 

The study of nature verged on the obsessive for many Victorians.   Fascinated by fungi from an early age, Beatrix Potter gained her knowledge in mycology through the medium of botanical illustration - the peculiar art - so called because of the difficulty of balancing the rigours of scientific work with artistic beauty.    Compelled to draw anything that interested her, she had been drawing scientifically for a number of years, accumulating a collection of studies of bats, birds, trees, flowers, beetles, caterpillars and fish.   In 1888 she began the water colour painting of fungi, initially finding difficulty in capturing their subtle hues, their precise structures and in particular the gills. 

Artist, John Everett Millais, taught Beatrix Potter how to mix her water colour paints.    He told Beatrix  "plenty of people can draw, but you have observation"

Observation is essential in gardening.    Daily I scrutinise and inspect my domain - garden, pond, field.   Today I am amazed by the snow clad contours.    Wonder what is happening under the soil.    Imagine the fungi converting organic material into forms that organisms can use; binding soil particles; helping with water infiltration; increasing soil water holding capacity.

Magic?   No science.    As each year passes appreciating the life cycle becomes simpler more effortless - just like discovering Fairy Circles.        



A view from my garden New Years Eve 2020

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