The Metz property

I was so excited to see this tiny patch of what I am guessing is slime mold. Love the droplets and their colour. Found on 29 July 2013, when several of us got the chance to botanize the land belonging to the Metz family, NW of Calgary. If I remember correctly, this was seen the other side of the trail from a small group of what I believe were Hydnellum ceruleum toothed fungi (with beautiful blue edges). Can't help but wonder if there is some connection between the two?

Usually, I call this plant Hedgenettle (though I always get it confused with Hempnettle), but the Naturalist who leads most of our botanizing trips called it Woundwort, so that is what I will use, for a change : ) Other common names include Heal-all, Self-heal, Betony, and Lamb's ears. Photographed on the land belonging to the Metz family, near Water Valley, on 29 July 2013.

This was such an exciting find three days ago, when a small group of us were fortunate enough to have the chance to explore a new area of forest and grassland. Thanks to the Metz family, we saw a few things on their land that we don't usually see. Taken NW of Calgary, not too far from Water Valley, on 29 July 2013. This is one of the very few fungi that I know the name for (if I AM correct, lol!) - Hydnellum caeruleum. A few of its common names include Blue-green hydnellum, Blue corky spine fungus, Blue spine and Blue tooth. I was just looking at the link below (such an excellent website, that I have visited for the last few years) and one of the photos on the page shows this species oozing pigment droplets. I'm beginning to think I am right when I was wondering if a previous photo I posted was connected in any way to the Hydnellum caeruleum fungi seen in my photo today. They were growing on opposite sides of the trail. We thought the one I posted yesterday was perhaps a Slime Mold, but now I'm thinking that it was some stage of the Hydnellum caeruleum fungus. Wish I knew far, far more about fungi than I do! For the most part, I just take the pretty pictures : ) botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/aug2003.html

Photographed on the land belonging to the Metz family, near Water Valley, on 29 July 2013. A handful of us were fortunate enough to have the chance to explore this beautiful forest and grassland area. Always fun to come across one of these brightly coloured Boletes.