For more information click here

The Rowan Tree (= Mountain Ash) in my garden had hardly leafed out this summer when it was set upon by a host of voracious caterpillars (Mountain Ash Sawfly larvae) and stripped entirely of its greenery.  Rowan trees are tough trees and mine fought its way back to health before the season was out.    However, it gave me the opportunity to photograph something other than a fungus!   It also brought to mind a  folk song from my native land (Scotland) that we used to sing with little talent and some reluctance (hardly singing actually!) in the music class in grade school.

The Rowan tree takes its name from ancient Scottish legends that tell of the magical Rowan tree symbolizing  BEAUTY, PRIVACY, PEACE, and SANCTUARY!

What more could you ask?  What more would you need?   Except perhaps what Omar suggested -

"A loaf of bread, a flask of wine, and thou beside me singing in the wilderness."

Scottish Folk Song, written and set to music by Lady Carolina Nairne (1766-1845)

Oh Rowan Tree

Oh rowan tree, oh rowan tree,
Thoul't aye be dear to me.
Entwin'd thou art wi' mony ties,
O' hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o spring,
Thy flowr's the simmer's pride:
There was na sic a bonnie tree,
In all the country side.
Oh rowan tree.

for additional verses check the web at  http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/scottish/rowan.htm    worth checking!

OK:  That's your dose of nostalgia for this month  

2. Additions to the species list:   Rhopalomyces elegans parasite of nematode eggs,  Cudonia circinans, Marasmius oreades - fairy ring mushroom, Crinipellis piceae, Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Amanita muscaria formosa, free gills of Pluteus cervinus and Agaricus sylvicola, Phylloporus rhodoxanthus - gilled bolete, Coprinus sp fruiting on dung.