Amanita Muscaria

 

         A favorite of shamans in Northern Europe and Asia, the "Fly Agaric" hallucinogenic though poisonous mushroom has sprouted abundantly in local forests on the central California coast.      

                                                    

      The US Forest Service reports the Amanitas was used in pre-Christian rituals in Northern Europe in Winter Solstice ceremonies and celebrations. 

    A red and white bedecked, rosy cheeked Santa Claus, flying reindeer, sleds and chimney's may well draw their creative source from Amanitas flying. 

The recent solstice and Christmas rain in Cambria has produced a spectacular display of Amanita and its cousins.

The above frame shows how the actual organism, the mycelia, works its magic of decomposition, usually below ground. Tendrils and fingers of mycelia range across the planet. 

To stay in the festive color scheme a few red beetles were in full frolic.

   It is a wondrous planet and it deserves our respect and care. Its mysteries are ours as well. You can see magic with a walk in the forest. 

   See you down the trail.

Santa's Private Reserve

It's time for a little fun. Here's our annual visit to Santa's private reserve, designed and curated by a talented elf named Kevin at the Cambria Garden Center. 

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Kwanzaa

Happy Holidays

Peace and Goodwill

See you down the trail. 

 

LIGHTS

  For the last few years thousands have flocked to Cambria's Christmas Market, a venture of a local hotel and garden center.

   Cambrians are of two minds, at least, about the display and the traffic and commotion. It is said two million lights are used. Count them if you'd like.

     The little ones and more than a few adults seem mesmerized by the displays. 

    I like the Surfin' Santa, complete with Hawaiian motif in the jacket. 

   Something for all, including a tribute to Aliens, here for the holidays. 

   A variation on a roasted artichoke. 

  This vendor was selling high flying spin activated and lit helicopters that continued to arc high above the millions of lights below.  

   The scene below is set off to the side, canted in such a way as to require a special effort to see it and read the warning sign.

     Krampus is the anti Santa Claus. Half goat-half demon, his thing is to punish or carry off bad children. The origin is unclear but it is a figure of the season in some northern and eastern European nations. Glad we skipped that in our childhood.

    This Christmas 2017 this creature could find plenty to carry off at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington D.C. and at the opposite end on Capitol Hill.  

     On further reflection, I think the beast has already been there, and probably had a large had in the writing of the new tax fraud bill.

      See you down the trail.