Our second wave of heavy rain this season has brought with it some colorful additions to the garden. This bright fellow might be familiar to fans of Alice in Wonderland. It’s Amanita muscaria and according to Wikipedia

Ingestion of the mushroom can cause poisoning, especially in children and those seeking its hallucinogenic effects, however, fatal poisonings are extremely rare. Parboiling reduces toxicity, though drying converts ibotenic acid into muscimol, retaining psychoactive effects. Some cultures use it as food after preparation. Indigenous peoples of Siberia used A. muscaria as an inebriant and entheogen. It has been controversially linked to Santa Claus, Viking berserkers, Vedic soma, and early Christianity, though evidence is sparse and disputed. Its rise in the 2020s as a legal hallucinogen alternative has led to Food and Drug Administration scrutiny.

A. muscaria has appeared in art and literature since the Renaissance, becoming iconic in fairy tales, children’s books, and media like Disney’s Fantasia (1940) and the Super Mario video games. It has also influenced literary depictions of altered perception—most notably in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

As pretty as it might look be careful around it. So far, my dogs haven’t shown any interest, but I will probably pull it up all the same. Happy New Year. Don’t go berserk!