At the shoulder of one of the tributaries of Bilberry Creek there were two meadow rue plants for many years. Alas, that two has been reduced to one lonely little meadow rue, now in delicate flower. And we wonder what happened to its mate? Likely destroyed by something or someone weighty trampling it, and more's the pity. If there are any others anywhere in the ravine, we've missed their presence over the decades.

Meadow rue

By the time we were halfway through our usual hour's circuit in the ravine this morning it felt as though we were involved in doing something quite exhausting. After we arrived back home, on the tail end of the noon news Environment Canada was advising that with the humidity level counted in, our temperature hovered in the 40C range. So, little wonder...

Globe thistle

Meanwhile, because of the rolling thunderstorms and rainfalls that have been popping up in the last week, plants are thriving everywhere; in the garden, in the ravine -- and everything looks pretty flush. Dog strangulation vine is taking advantage of these outstanding growing conditions, beginning to twine itself over everything in its path -- and everything is in its path.

Dog strangulation vine

Burdock and thistle are beginning to develop their flowers as they reach toward maturity. But what is a bit different is the growing proliferation of fungi everywhere. In some places little colonies of tiny brown, undistinguished, impudent little fungi have made their appearance.

We came across a pale orange mushroom which had appealed to someone who'd come across it, since it had been taste-tested, the nibbled edges telling the story.

On tree stumps, well aged and deteriorating gradually, the overall presence of fungi have appeared to aid in the time-tested decomposition process, part of nature's renewal blueprint.

Down in one of the gullies where one of the largest, oldest willows sits, its deeply ridged, elderly bark now hosts waterspouts, a result of all that rain and its propensity to accumulate where the willow is situated, an absolutely perfect location for water-thriving willows.

We came across one mushroom that didn't even appear real. It was all alone, none others nearby, and it was a perfectly flat, startling-white disc. Who knows, perhaps the forest gnomes who come out when we leave, use such discs in their sporting games?

On the surface of one decomposing stump there was a collection of miniature orange balls, fungi of a more exotic texture and colour, although those that are eggshell-coloured, large and shapely are attractive enough as far as we're concerned.