Wounds and Rings: The Tale of Mushrooms at the Base of a Tree

1 day ago

Under the cool shade of the forest trees, I walked slowly along the damp soil trail. Fallen leaves formed a natural carpet, and the sounds of nature seemed to greet my every step. The morning air was so fresh, filled with the scent of wet soil and slowly rotting leaves.

Not far from the shady tree trunk, my gaze fell on something striking, a large mushroom with a circular shape, like layers of years on a tree trunk. Its color was reddish brown with clear white edges, as if drawn by a very fine hand.

I approached. There, two large mushrooms grew quietly amidst the bushes and roots. One looked sturdy, like a natural shield that stuck tightly to the base of an old tree. The other, shaped like a fan that had opened, showed the lines of life that it had long passed. Each had a unique pattern, as if holding its own story.

This mushroom is very interesting. Not only because of its artistic shape, but because of its hidden location in a place that not many people see. As if waiting for someone to find it and appreciate its existence.

I photographed them, freezing the silent beauty in the image. And when I walked back, I felt like I was carrying with me a small piece of the forest's secret, a simple encounter that gave me a sense of wonder amidst nature's silent conversation.