Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-9.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-7.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-4.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-10.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-8.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-6.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-3.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-2.jpg
  • One of the most surprising and unusual fungi species to find in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, this worm-like/coral-like white-to-yellow club fungus was only noticed as I stopped to re-tie a boot's laces in Mercer Slough in Bellevue, Washington. It is reportedly edible, yet also reported to be completely tasteless.
    Fairy Fingers
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-1.jpg
  • This very attractive, sometimes very orange, other-times very golden, slimy, spiky yet claimed-to-be-edible mushroom starts off as a small "spiky" ball growing on either deciduous or coniferous trees, then quickly matures into this form very common mushroom that is often found Western North America, Northern Europe. Japan and New Zealand. This one was found in great profusion during the October rains growing on the trunks of the hardwoods in Bellevue, Washington's Mercer Slough.
    Golden Scalycap-5.jpg
  • While devoid of chlorophyll and unable to make its own food like most plants, the clustered broomrape is a parasitic plant that steals nutrients from neighboring host plants. These fuzzy and perfect examples of the yellow variety were found growing among patches of poison oak in southern Oregon near Medford.
    Clustered Broomrape
  • Fairly widespread across most of North America, excluding the Southeast and the extreme Northeast, the golden currant is a member of the currant and gooseberry family. In early spring, this plant is covered in hundreds of beautiful small bright yellow flowers. By late spring and early summer, the limbs of this small water-loving shrub become heavily laden with golden yellow/orange edible fruits, such as these growing next to Cowiche Creek, just west of Yakima, Washington.
    Golden Currant
  • Easily the most beautiful of all of the native currants that grow wild in the Pacific Northwest, the waxy current is also one of the most flavorless. I actually ate one of these after the shot and there was no sweetness or taste, just texture which I thought was very strange. Apparently not so to the hummingbirds, who take advantage of these early spring bloomers to feed on the nectar of the tubular white flowers where they might be the only flowers available to them at the time.
    Wax Currant
  • Wild golden currants vary in taste from plant to plant, much like other berry-producing plants. These currants range from light yellow to orange, red, and even black. Personally I think the orange and red ones are the sweetest, and the yellow ones (those that are fully ripe) are a bit bitter. All of them have large seeds inside, that are easier eaten than spit out. These were photographed (then eaten) in Cowiche Canyon, just to the west of Yakima, WA.
    Golden Currant
  • Almost ready to eat! These golden currants are about to burst with tart, fruity goodness along the banks of Cowiche Creek as it flows through the desert steppe in Central Washington.
    Golden Currant
  • Golden currants ripening in the late afternoon sunshine in Cowiche Canyon, just to the west of Yakima, WA. These native wild edibles were (and still are) used as food for many of the Native American tribes across North America.
    Golden Currant
  • One of the first flowers to be seen in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the Indian plum fills the forest with clusters of beautiful showy white flowers that soon develop small berries that turn from peach to red and finally dark blue or purple when ripe. Although not really a plum, it is a unique fruit that is pleasantly similar in taste to cherries or watermelon. Historically, local Native American tribes would mix these berries with generous amounts of oolichan (an oil from a local oily fish - similar to a smelt) and was popular at feasts. The bark was also used as a medicinal tea. This one was one fo the first of the season, showing itself along side Soos Creek in Kent, Washington, about 25 miles south of Seattle on a chilly, wet March afternoon.
    Indian Plum Blossoms
  • The unexpectedly unusual fruit of the red-flowering currant looks like a dusty, slightly spiky blueberry or huckleberry but can be found in great profusion in particular parts of the Pacific Northwest from the river bottoms to the lower elevations of the Cascade Mountains. Although somewhat sweet but rather mushy, it typically isn't eaten by people but is a great food source for wildlife, especially birds. These pretty clusters of berries were found growing next to the Green River about 20 miles south of Seattle, Washington on a warm summer day.
    Red-flowering Currant Fruit-2.jpg
  • The unexpectedly unusual fruit of the red-flowering currant looks like a dusty, slightly spiky blueberry or huckleberry but can be found in great profusion in particular parts of the Pacific Northwest from the river bottoms to the lower elevations of the Cascade Mountains. Although somewhat sweet but rather mushy, it typically isn't eaten by people but is a great food source for wildlife, especially birds. These pretty clusters of berries were found growing next to the Green River about 20 miles south of Seattle, Washington on a warm summer day.
    Red-flowering Currant Fruit-3.jpg
  • The unexpectedly unusual fruit of the red-flowering currant looks like a dusty, slightly spiky blueberry or huckleberry but can be found in great profusion in particular parts of the Pacific Northwest from the river bottoms to the lower elevations of the Cascade Mountains. Although somewhat sweet but rather mushy, it typically isn't eaten by people but is a great food source for wildlife, especially birds. These pretty clusters of berries were found growing next to the Green River about 20 miles south of Seattle, Washington on a warm summer day.
    Red-flowering Currant Fruit-4.jpg
  • The unexpectedly unusual fruit of the red-flowering currant looks like a dusty, slightly spiky blueberry or huckleberry but can be found in great profusion in particular parts of the Pacific Northwest from the river bottoms to the lower elevations of the Cascade Mountains. Although somewhat sweet but rather mushy, it typically isn't eaten by people but is a great food source for wildlife, especially birds. These pretty clusters of berries were found growing next to the Green River about 20 miles south of Seattle, Washington on a warm summer day.
    Red-flowering Currant Fruit-1.jpg
  • Also known by other other common names such as the devil's-head cactus and horse crippler, this small, extremely slow-growing native cactus of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts is found in Southern Arizona and New Mexico, Western Texas and can be found in the wild as far south as Mexico City. This cylindrical cactus is usually found alone, rather than in clusters and is believed to live to 75-100 years! The dense, wooly-haired mass at the top of this eagle claw cactus will produce a large 2-3 inch pink flower by the end of each summer. This particular cactus was found and photographed in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County in Western Texas in mid-April.
    Eagle Claw Cactus
  • Close-up of the fantastically beautiful American beautyberry. These clusters of drupes (think blackberries) each contain a seed and are a very important source of food for many species of birds. The berries are edible to a point, but can be extremely astringent. they are well suited to making jams and wine, however. The roots can be used to make an herbal tea, and it's said that the crushed leaves can repel mosquitos when rubbed on the skin. This perfect example of a beautyberry in fruit was found in Palm Beach County on a cool fall afternoon.
    American Beautyberry
  • Also known by other other common names such as the devil's-head cactus and horse crippler, this small, extremely slow-growing native cactus of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts is found in Southern Arizona and New Mexico, Western Texas and can be found in the wild as far south as Mexico City. This cylindrical cactus is usually found alone, rather than in clusters and is believed to live to 75-100 years! The dense, wooly-haired mass at the top of this eagle claw cactus will produce a large 2-3 inch pink flower by the end of each summer. This particular cactus was found and photographed in Big Bend National Park in Brewster County in Western Texas in mid-April.
    Eagle Claw Cactus
  • How beautiful are these rose vervain clusters! This ground cover species of verbena had the butterflies buzzing on a hot late winter afternoon in Southern Texas next to the Rio Grande in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge! Rose vervain is native to the Eastern and South-Central parts of the United States where it can tolerate dry conditions with a lot of heat.
    Rose Vervain (Glandularia canadensis)
  • The positively tiny clusters of the infamous stinging nettle are easily overlooked, especially when one is trying to avoid the painful rash this plant give in order to protect itself. This one was found in full bloom along Soos Creek in Kent, Washington on a cloudy summer day.
    Stinging Nettle Flowers
  • The fantastically beautiful American beautyberry in all its glory in its natural habitat. These clusters of drupes (think blackberries) each contain a seed and are a very important source of food for many species of birds, and the foliage is a very important food source for deer. The berries are edible to a point, but can be extremely astringent. they are well suited to making jams and wine, however. The roots can be used to make an herbal tea, and it's said that the crushed leaves can repel mosquitos when rubbed on the skin. This perfect example of a beautyberry in fruit was found in Palm Beach County on a cool fall afternoon.
    American Beautyberry
  • This cluster of flower buds will soon open into a small spray of tiny yellow flowers, that will by next winter become a head of bright red berries. Just by the sheer number of sumac shrubs that can be found like this one just west of Yakima in Cowiche Canyon, crowded together on both sides of the creek that flows through it - it is a veritable feast for all the animals living in the area and will keep them all fed throughout the long winter.
    Smooth Sumac
  • A cluster of parrot pitcher plants growing in the Apalachicola National Forest. This is the smallest and most common pitcher plant to be found in Florida.
    Parrot Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia psi..ina)
  • Also known as the miniature barrel cactus, this interesting little low-elevation cactus barely reaches 7 inches at its tallest and is usually found in the shady mesquite tree thickets of Central to South Texas. It is easy to identify by its 13 twisted ribs, 10-19 radial spines on each areole with one hooked central spine sticking outward. This massive cluster was found in a wilderness area just outside of Mission, Texas.
    Twisted Rib Cactus (Thelocactus seti..nus)
  • The rosary pea is an invasive vine from Asia and Australia that has found a home in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas. While these "peas" may be useful in many shaker-percussion instruments, the black and red fruits are highly toxic. One ingested pea had the potential to be fatal to a healthy adult. This cluster of rosary peas was found in a suburban neighborhood in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Rosary Pea
  • These very pretty little aquatic wildflowers are native to the American Southeast, and can be found in all the coastal states from Texas to Maryland in calm, still water such as ponds swamps and lakes, and are most abundant in Florida. These are perhaps best known to aquarium hobbyists as "banana plants" due to the thick underwater rhizomes that look lie a small cluster of bananas. These were found is a small pond in a pine scrub woodland just north of Jupiter, Florida.
    Big Floatinghearts
  • These very pretty little aquatic wildflowers are native to the American Southeast, and can be found in all the coastal states from Texas to Maryland in calm, still water such as ponds swamps and lakes, and are most abundant in Florida. These are perhaps best known to aquarium hobbyists as "banana plants" due to the thick underwater rhizomes that look lie a small cluster of bananas. These were found is a small pond in a pine scrub woodland just north of Jupiter, Florida.
    Big Floatinghearts
  • This oyster-like cluster of hairy parchment mushrooms was found growing next to the wet, swampy ponds in the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge at the southern tip of Washington's Puget Sound.
    Hairy Parchment
  • This cluster of brittle and slightly aged mushrooms was found on the side of a hiking trail on West Tiger Mountain in Western Washington.
    Common Stump Brittlestem
  • A tight cluster of panhandle butterworts growing among some small pond cypress trees in Liberty County, Florida.
    Panhandle Butterwort (Pinguicula ion..tha)
  • Close-up of a cluster of yellow helmet orchid flowers in an isolated pond in Collier County, Florida. These orchids are usually found in wetlands with lots of shade.
    Yellow Helmet Orchid (Polystachya co..eta)
  • Wide angle shot of a section of a huge cluster of green-fly orchids, some of them in bloom. These were found in Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest. These are very common above natural springs and sinkholes.
    Green-fly Orchid (Epidendrum magnoli..iae)
  • A healthy cluster of tall twayblade orchids in bloom in the Fakahatchee Strand.
    Tall Twayblade Orchid (Liparis nervosa)
  • A beautiful cluster of cardinal airplants in bloom growing in a cypress tree in the Florida Everglades near Homestead. These endangered epiphytes are often visited by hummingbirds.
    Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fascic..ata)
  • Eggs of one of the species of Pomacea apple snails found in Florida, only the Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) is native. The four non-native species are the island apple snail, channeled apple snail, spike-topped apple snail, and the titan apple snail. Since the eggs of each species can vary in color and size among the same species, it's hard to tell which one these belong to. This cluster of eggs was found in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Apple Snail Eggs
  • Still a small cluster of Mojave mound cacti, this grey-green species of barrel cactus with their distinctive dusty pink spines normally is found in clumps of 20-40 stems. Also known as a cottontop cactus (you can see what appears to be a ball of cotton at the top of each one), in June or July in the hottest part of the desert summer, a bright yellow blossom will flower. These were found and photographed while I was searching for some shade in the Mojave desert.
    Mojave Mound Cactus
  • These ripe fruits of the Joshua tree range in size from 2-4 inches, and are clustered on the tall flower "spikes" that can be from 12-60 inches from the center of the rosette where new leaves form. These were photographed from below with a nice morning golden light in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
    Fruit of the Joshua Tree