Red Cracking Bolete

Wow - another edible. This photo was taken at Washington's newest state park. It's a cooperative project between the state and the Swinomish tribe. The land, which used to be private property, was acquired by both and is being jointly managed. The very tip of the park is off limits to any foot traffic as it is a very rare low land meadow known as a "rocky bald" - an area with little top soil due to glaciation that will not support trees, but does support flowers and meadow plants, some of them rare and endangered. As the soil is very, very thin it is extremely susceptible to erosion and damage from even one person walking on it, which is why it is protected.