Stump Puffballs

You would more often see these, sometimes in large numbers, growing round the base of dead tree stumps. Here they are growing in a crack between the pavement and a dry stone wall. My book tells me that they are growing on a buried stump or dead branch and forcing their way through the crack to the light.

These are beginning to age. When younger they are whitish like other Puffballs but as they grow older they turn brown. The flesh inside turns green and then brown. You can see some of the holes where they puff out the spores.

A perfect morning for the 3 mile round trip to the Bob Inn cafe for hot chocolate and a shared cake. No top coat needed.