Mushrooms, Huckleberries And My Macro Lens.
We finally got some summer weather here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures have a lot of folks enjoying some outdoor activities.
I did some swimming on Friday but spent the weekend enjoying two old time outdoor traditions, picking mushrooms and huckleberries. And I was able to engage in my new hobby be bringing along my camera and macro lens and photograph some of the many wonders of nature I encountered in the woods.
We had a lot of rain here in Northeastern Pennsylvania this year and this has resulted in many species of mushroom appearing almost overnight, including aspen scaber bolete mushrooms, which my dad and the Slavic folks called “red tops. 
I never found them this early before and have been picking them for a few weeks now. We would usual find them after Labor Day but not this year. I found quite a few growing yesterday. Gave most away to family but will be cooking some up shortly. Just a warning. there are many deadly mushrooms out there so don’t eat any wild mushrooms unless you know what your picking or had an expert identify them for you. 
And although I was lucky and found some yesterday, I always say, it doesn’t matter if I do, have the fun is being in the woods looking for them. So much to see. Yesterday I saw red tail hawks, a green heron and many song birds all of which were out of range of my macro lens but where now part of the many pleasurable memories I have of my hikes in the woods. 
I was able to photograph many of the smaller, but just as beautiful inhabitants of the woodlands and ponds. 
The daises, queen anne’s lace, thistle and other wildflowers attracted all kinds of wasps, bees, butterflies and bugs. The complexity and beauty of these tiny creature never ceases to amaze me. I wish I had the time to identify all of them . Any help would be appreciated. 
And then there the damsel flies and dragonflies again truly amazing creatures when looked at up close. The intricate design of the dragonfly wing is just incredible.
And how about these damselfly lovers and the heart they made. It was a perfect summer day. 
And today I headed out with my macro lens again but this time in search of wild blueberries. Known in these parts as huckleberries, I went looking for the high bush variety, which we call “swamper” since they grow in swamps and wetlands. Again it is a bit early but I was able to pick around four quarts.
I heard many frog croaking in the water around the “swamper” bushes and saw many jump in the waters ahead of me as I trudged through the brush. I was only able to get one photograph, this tiny toad that i was able to catch. 
And again was able to capture a number of insects, butterflies and wasps on my hike. I love the Summer. Now time to enjoy some of those mushrooms I picked. This is a link to some more photographs I took on my hikes this weekend. Please feel free to comment or add an identification, like this beautiful spider. 
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