Little blue

August has been a bit bonkers. Work, the Edinburgh Festival & Fringe, back-to-back visitors and volunteering at an annual Art Show have all meant I have spent very little time on the National Cycle Network routes and even less time looking at the wildlife on the greenways. But Thursday was the monthly volunteer litterpick on the Blackhall Path (NCN1) in Edinburgh and while we picked up cups, straws, chocolate wrappers and poo bags, and rescued 5 shopping trolleys, I spotted a little blue mushroom on the verge in among the grass. I'm not good at fungi ID, despite several training courses through work. Luckily one of our volunteers is much more dedicated to learning, and seeing my tweet about this 'little blue mushroom' he suggested it was Verdigris Agaric. Apparently it starts off vivid blue/green, matures to yellow ochre, and then loses colour completely, so I'm pleased I saw it that day. The route was also covered in berries - brambles, hawthorn, rowan, blackthorn - and there's a definite feeling that summer is coming to an end. After such a busy month and busy city, I'm ready for it and for more quiet outdoor time as the seasons change. To probably misquote from Walden, I'd now "rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion."...!