Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria are some of the most controversial mushrooms.Most people believe that they contain poison but actually is a deliriant of sorts. These red and white toadstools became popular after being depicted with Christmas themes. Reindeer were thought to have eaten them to be able to fly. There is much fantasy talk about them. 

Above: Button form possible Amanita muscaria var. guessowii

Below: Fully grown

Its no wonder such fairy tales have been made. These mushrooms are mystical and you can tell just by looking at them. 

Updates in progress... Under construction...

So as you can tell, this blog is just now starting up recently. I strive to photograph all of the mushrooms that I can possibly find. Each mushroom has some beauty in it, but not every mushroom is edible. I'll be doing more work here soon and sharing many pictures that I have taken throughout the last few years. Here's just a sample of what is to come.

Above: Psilocybe cyanescens; very potent psychedelic

Below: Gymnopilus luteofolius; mildly psychedelic

As I mentioned above, not all mushrooms are edible. As this mushroom below is considered toxic. For years people believed Paxillus involutus was edible if cooked thouroughly, but folk were wrong as some had allergic reactions and fell very ill. Sometimes dying. Although mushrooms can be poisonous, its quite easy to become aware with the bad as you study further into mycology. Mushroom books create a safe haven for identification along with various websites that host forums for identification, (I.E. Shroomery.org).

Above: Paxillus involutus; poisonous, can be fatal

Below: Galerina Autumnalis; very deadly

Chanterelle hunting in early fall

By far one of my favorite mushrooms to hunt for, is the Chanterelle. Its fresh apricot smell and the bright orange almost gold as a bell as it pushes up through the forest floor. Chanterelles are usually found near old logging roads where pines have been cut. The biggest yields I've found were near slopes in these previously described areas. They will grow as far as 20 feet or more in large amounts. As season gets toward the middle, they can be found at lower elevations in parks as well. I was surprised when I discovered over 50 chanterelles at a park in South Hill area of Puyallup. Much different than my usual hunting areas in the mountain parks.

Above: A trail of chanterelles can be found if you're the lucky person to be first in the area

Below:  The usual habitat for good amounts of chanterelles

Below: Large harvest done in the prime of season.

So you're probably wondering what exactly I did with all of these mushrooms. I gave some away to family members, then I made a bunch of chanterelle soup! Recipe is below. I also took a picture of what it turned out to be like. It was the best soup I've probably ever had in my life. No joke.

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/01/creamy-chanterelle-soup-recipe.html

Welcome

Hello, I'm an avid mushroom hunter and I'm going to be posting all my pictures on here and talking about the adventures that I embark to find mushrooms of all kind. I usually just go looking in all types of terrain whether mountains, trails, rivers, lakes, streams, meadows or forests. Some species, however, are more set in habitat or growing mycorrhizal with trees. For example, these chanterelles love to grow underneath pine trees before the hard freeze of winter. This last year was amazing for chanterelles. Upon finding one, you could find multiple flushes nearby.

These are called Cantharellus formosus or commonly known as the pacific golden chanterelle.

Mycorrhizal - A symbiotic (generally mutualistic, but occasionally weakly pathogenic) association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant.