On their annual autumn hike up Haystack Mountain, Marie and Bob Murphy of Cornwall found this beautiful mushroom just off the trail in the leafy base of the forest floor above the parking area. It measured approximately five inches across and six inches tall and appeared, from the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms, to be a parasol mushroom (Lepiota procera). The couple, who felt fortunate to have this mushroom present itself, photographed it and left this lovely parasol for others to discover as well.

Photo by Marie Murphy.