The Shaggy Stalked Bolete, Heimioporus Betula

Editor’s Note: Although I love to focus on great edible mushrooms on this blog, for some time I have been planning to delve more into the aesthetically pleasing mushrooms that, for one reason or another, are not often to be Read More

Becoming Friends With Mushrooms – An Interview With Ryane Snow

Editor’s Note: Dr. Ryane Snow was one of the coolest mycophiles I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. He was a radiant soul whose presence was made up of equal parts warmth and intuitive intellect. I want to share a Read More

Pleurotus Dryinus, the Veiled Oyster Mushroom

Editor’s Note: In my effort to catalog some of our more common North Carolina and eastern U.S. mushrooms, I have done little to touch on the varied species in the genus Pleurotus, which are generally called “oyster mushrooms.” Oyster mushrooms are one Read More

Amanita Jacksonii, the Eastern Caesar's Amanita

Editor’s Note: Correction: In the first publication of this blog, I mistakenly used a photograph of Amanita frostiana by Eric Smith and attributed it to a different Mushroom Observer user; I sincerely apologize for this error and have added the photo I Read More

Mushrooms Are Sexy Part II – Fungi Are Everywhere!

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part series about the history of mycology and the basics of fungal reproduction. If you’re interested in learning more about how sexy mushrooms can be, take a look at the last post. Read More

Edible Mushrooms in the NC Triangle – Good Spots to Hunt

Editor’s Note: Edible mushrooms are abundant in the North Carolina Piedmont, and it’s about time to get out in the woods in earnest in celebration of the oncoming season! The chanterelles have arrived (albeit in small numbers and most of Read More

Hericium Mushrooms of the Eastern United States

Editor’s Note: Of all the mushrooms that grow in the eastern United States, few outstrip the Hericium mushrooms in terms of beauty and excellent flavor. These mushrooms are also very likely to cause significant heartache among mushroom hunters who find Hericium mushrooms growing high Read More

My First Mushroom, the Pacific Northwest Golden Chanterelle

Editor’s Note: I will always remember the first time I went mushroom hunting in earnest, because it was one of the more exhilirating experiences in my adult life. It also set the foundation for my passion for mycology, which is Read More

North Carolina's Top 10 Edible Wild Mushrooms

Editor’s Note: Every person has different preferences and tastes, and this is especially true when it comes to wild edible mushrooms. Some mushroom hunters love to eat stink horn eggs, but the only time I tried them it was a Read More

Romans and Mushrooms – A Roman-tic Comedy

Editor’s Note: Way back in college, I was half persuaded, half coerced by my classics-loving friends into taking a challenging history course called Fall of the Roman Republic. There were 7 of us all told in the class, and we decided it Read More