Yard work season

Just cut down five Norway maples in the yard. Three pretty decent sized ones and two little ones that were just about lopper sized. I took down the bigger ones with a hand saw. I've got another six or seven of ones that are that big (maybe six or eight inches in diameter, maximum). I was thinking of buying the black and decker rechargeable electric chainsaw that fits the battery I already use for my weed whacker, but the reviews on Amazon make it sound like an overpriced piece of junk--plus once these little maples are down I probably won't use it again.

I may take my neighbor up on his offer to lend me some tools--I know he has a gas-powered chainsaw, and I could probably use it for a half-hour or so and not chop my leg off by mistake. Alexis is going to join the arbor day foundation and get some good native trees to replace the Norways. I'd like to see a red maple back there, or maybe some birches. I love white birches, but they do tend to live short fragile lives. I'm also tempted to buy some mycelium plugs from fungi perfecti to jam into the Norway stumps. These weedy trees bounce right back from the stump if you don't keep killing them. Maitake or turkey tail might keep them from resprouting, I don't know. Or maybe the honey mushroom mycelium that's already in the ground will take advantage of the weakened Norway roots. I'll let you know what happens!

Last two mushrooms species of the year?

I found two new-to-me mushroom species at Franklin Park Zoo in the first week of November, including this adorable cluster.
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3:00 snapshot #842

On the highway, driving back from my dad's house, didn't spend a lot of time trying to focus.

3:00 snapshot #843

Looking rather doughy and middle-aged at my desk, if I do say so.

Everyone loves zoo babies

I think this is the best shot I got of Stone Zoo's new gibbon baby and its mom, but that won't stop me from posting a whole bunch of other ones too!

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