millertime

Speaking of cool stuff in the woods...this is called "Indian Pipe", and it's considered a wildflower, although it looks like a mushroom or something. The National Audobon Society book calls it a "saprophyic, perennial herb lacking chlorophyll." It goes on to say "the roots of these plants grow in close association with fungi, from which they receive all of their nutrients and water". They call them "indirect parasites". I found these growing not so far from my driveway, initially 2 years ago. They dried up, and did not reappear until this year, in smaller numbers. I wonder if rainfall makes a difference, as last year was a lot drier. I just LOVE this time of year for all the awesome wild things growing and blooming everywhere!