Local Nature Outreach Project

I found this species of fungus while doing my local nature report at lake bloomington. I found it on the edge of the Forrest with many other species of fungus eating decaying material. Doing some research I found that the faint puffball is edible. You want to cut it open to see if it is firm and still white in the middle. If it is brown or has gills disregard it immediately it is not edible. Also through my research I have reaffirmed my identification because the giant puffball fungus does not grow on trees or logs but grows on the ground. It mainly grows during late summer to early fall which is the time period I found it. https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/puffball-mushroom-identification.html

I found this American poke weed while I was at lake bloomington working on my local nature project. After some research I have found that the American pokeweed can grow to be 4 to 6 feet in height. I also found out that is blooms from summer to early autumn; which is around the time I found it. Their raw berries are poisonous to humans and livestock but they are an important food source for various types of songbirds. Information found from www.softschools.com/facts/plants/american_pokeweed_facts/1390/