Although Saturday afternoon, November 4, will be our last regular tour of the season, The Quarry Gardens will not be inactive until spring. As views open, the winter landscape has its own appeal. Crunching through fallen leaves, we notice the geometry of seed heads, the winter colors of orchid leaves, the great variety of fungi, the architecture of trees, the many textures of bark, and the cold-weather homes of insects. Taking advantage of the season’s opportunities, we’ll offer occasional programs and trail walks of an educational nature. And, of course, we’ll be available for private tours.

This week, the pictured Shaggy ink cap, Coprinus comatus, popped up in a group near the Giant’s Stairs. Said to be edible when young and entirely white, these turned black and liquified overnight.