These red and yellow boletes are what began our mushroom obsession. They come up and some turn blue very slowly when touched or sliced while some turn blue as quick as oxygen hits and it’s a blue so deep it appears black. They appear to bleed. This Chrome-footed bolete does not stain blue at all which is what helped us come to an identification. Even so, we are “pretty confident” but not 100% so they didn’t come home with us.
Harrya chromipes, Chrome-footed bolete found right up top at SAFF before passing through the gate. We found a group of these infected with Hypomyces.
It’s so fun to witness the emergence of boletes again after the long drought. It’s been in the high 90’s here with chances for rain this weekend. We hope to get out to SAFF to look for more mushrooms.
Boletus separans, lilac bolete, is a choice edible that we did take home and eat. We’ve foraged it before so we recognized them right away. It’s associated with oak trees and sometimes pine. The taste is prized for its nutty flavor and pleasant odor and texture. They are delicious and we’ve found them all over SAFF. Agaricus sylvaticus, Blushing wood mushroom, is a common edible mushroom found in groups in coniferous forests. We found it on the north side just near Three Pine Gulch Trail. Another red and yellow bolete. This one stains quite easily, as you can see from the thumbprint. There’s red droplets on the base of the stem which looks like guttation which is an indicator of Neoboletus sp. Either Red-mouth bolete or very close lookalike the Scarletina bolete. These are both edible with precautions. It will be a while before we confidently eat these. But it’s fun to puzzle out their names and identities. Tipularia discolor, crane-fly orchid, opening flowers now at SAFF. Goodyera pubescens, downy rattlesnake plantain, is one of the most common orchids native to eastern North America. It is exciting to catch it flowering. Unidentified red and yellow bolete found along Jacksonii Trail about halfway down. Several lush mosses and a fungi fruiting directly from them. These little brown mushrooms haven’t been identified.
We have older iPhones that we use. When we take pics, it’s too sunny to even see what we are getting so it’s luck. 🙏🏼 Thank you for your nice words and taking the time to read and respond. 🤗
So cool! The implications of the fungal community to landscape health are so poorly understood. I am always in awe when cool fungi allow me to enjoy their presence.
Yes, when temperatures and rainfall and who knows how many other variables align, and suddenly these colorful exciting mushrooms pop up, awe is the perfect word. 😊
Saint Andrews Forest Farm 
Your knowledge is incredible. I really enjoyed coming along on this adventure with you!
You are so kind. We are learning, growing and becoming. We definitely lean into the forest with its beauty, peace and abundance. 💚🌳
These photos are spectacular, with the high detail in the foreground and blur in the background, wish I knew how to do that! 😍
We have older iPhones that we use. When we take pics, it’s too sunny to even see what we are getting so it’s luck. 🙏🏼 Thank you for your nice words and taking the time to read and respond. 🤗
So cool! The implications of the fungal community to landscape health are so poorly understood. I am always in awe when cool fungi allow me to enjoy their presence.
Yes, when temperatures and rainfall and who knows how many other variables align, and suddenly these colorful exciting mushrooms pop up, awe is the perfect word. 😊
Loved the bolete images – I haven;t seen any in some time.
We hadn’t seen them for over a year. We have been in a drought in Virginia. They are a sight for sore eyes. 👍🏼