MycoRant

A number of forays have taken place recently (and for some reason did not show up on my radar until after the fact) and many more are upcoming now that cooler Fall weather is arriving around many parts of the Northern hemisphere. This season also seems to bring out reporters who find an interest in chronicling the activities of those weird people who go looking for mushrooms. And besides, the words, fungi, mushroom, and morel offer an apparently infinite supply of opportunities for puns, alliterations, and otherwise bad wordplay in article titles!

Does your organization have a foray or mycological event coming up? Please let me know and MycoRant will help you get the word out.

The Fungus Survey of Oxforshire

The Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire (UK) was founded in the mid-1980s, by Marion and the late Arthur Warland, who lived in Oxford. According to Fascinating fungi forays by Elizabeth Edwards, the local recording group of the British Mycological Society, whose role is to record the fungi of the county and to contribute these records to the society’s national database will be making some field excursions this Autumn.

“The finds lead to more detailed studies of the specimens they have collected, in order to determine their exact species. Forays by the group are not open to the general public, as they are often on sites where there may be limited parking space, or may be on private land on which the group is working with the permission of the owner. But individuals who would like to further an initially general, but now more growing, interest may take part.”

Something’s Probably Happening Near Spokane

Foraging for fungi by Kirsten Harrington takes a look at mushrooms and the  The Spokane Mushroom Club, which by the way has a foray coming up at Priest River Experimental  Station on October 9-11.

“Pale yellow chanterelles, fragrant anise mushrooms, distinctive coral fungi and thousands of other species have been prized for centuries. In China, mushrooms have been used in cooking and medicinally for more than 2,000 years. The Japanese value the shiitake mushroom for its ability to strengthen the immune system with naturally occurring antibiotic substances. What it so appealing about digging around in the dirt for often strange-looking, sometimes poisonous fungi? Lynda Foreman, a member of the Spokane Mushroom Club since 1982, explains. ‘I enjoy the hunt, walking around in the woods. I love being in the mountains,’ she said. ‘Some of the mushrooms are beautiful, elegant.’”

Way to Go Idaho!

There is a Fall mushroom identification foray coming up in McCall Idaho, sponsored by the Southern Idaho Mycological Association (SIMA).

“This foray is a complete workshop on mushroom identification. SIMA members will use their skills to lead mushroom hunts in the morning and teach others the basics of mushroom identification in the afternoon. Thursday evening consists of setting up and informal identification of mushrooms arriving with the foray organizers.”

If you are in the area you might want to consider attending some events (including a foray) at Glacier National Park. The “Fall Mushroom Foray” weekend Sept. 19-20 costs $170, which includes lodging at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center. Fees are lower if you are not staying on-site.

Now Moving to New England

Morel is: Know your mushrooms by Tom Meade (see what I mean?). What the heck it’s a pretty good article. There are some workshops coming up in or near Exeter, Rhode Island.

“Joe Metzen and Laura Carberry will present their program, “Taking the Mystery Out of Mushrooming,” Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Audubon Fisher Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter. The fee is $20 for an Audubon member or $25 for a nonmember. Reservations are required.”

• “Taking the Mystery Out of Mushrooming”, Sept. 19 at the Audubon Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge, in Coventry. Hours, fees and registration requirements remain the same.

• “Wild Mushroom Walk” Sept. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Audubon Kimball Wildlife Sanctuary, in Charlestown. The fees are $8 for a member adult, $12 for a nonmember adult, $4 for a member child and $6 for a nonmember child.

• “Fungus Foray on Prudence Island” is scheduled for Sept. 30. The ferry is scheduled to leave Bristol at 10 a.m. and to return around 4:30 p.m. The program fee is $16 for a member or $20 for a nonmember.

Colorado

Don’t forget the upcoming Mycoblitz in Colorado West of Denver near Estes Park.

Tags: forays