Tag Archives: puffball

A Sunday Workday with Mushrooms

Cyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay feather, found along Red Hawk Road.
Lycoperdon marginatum, Peeling Puffball, found up top in the main clearing. They were small and cute. We left them for a woodland creature to snack on later.
Calvatia cyathiformis, Purple-spored Puffball, is a large edible purple spored mushroom that comes up in groups at the top of Red Hawk Trail when the temperature and rainfall and just the right environmental conditions occur. Primarily seen late summer into fall after soaking rains or wet periods. They are edible when young and completely white inside. After they change color internally, they are sooting and inedible. We were stunned by the mosaic scales they each have.
A mature Calvatia cyathiformis with an opening used to release spores. As it matures, the solid white interior breaks down into a dark purple powdery spore mass. We thought it looked like a giant sea urchin.
Multiple holes formed on surface will emit spores when wind, rain or passing animals compress the mushroom. We thought this looked like a brain.

We went over and got a few chores done. The temperature was a cool-feeling 84 Degrees Fahrenheit. We got the scaffolding up on the tiny house. We’re excited to have our plans coming together.

Calvatia cyathiformis broken open to see bugs have been eating it and the white solid inside becoming darker powdery spores.
We got 2 levels of scaffolding up and it went up quickly.