Contradicting New-Age Stuff

[Sparkwielder]

I am in Virginia. It seems like summer comes a month earlier every year, and leaves a month later, yet some of my science geek friends still say that global warming is a myth! This climate change is starting to mess with the  in my area. Evey year so far I have found less and less of the Morels in Spring and Maitake in the fall. It just doesn't rain when it's supposed to and it's too hot during the fruiting window.

It seems like we get the heat and a lot of droughts, while other areas get too much rain and possibly cooler than usual temps. It's like when you streach something it gets bigger in one place and smaller in another.

I hope things are going well for Kim and the baby. Kids can really take up a lot of time and energy, and leave little time for any thing else, at least that's what my Mom told me! 

[dan]

A mushroom picker The only thing i'm brave enough so far is chantrelles, god i love mushrooms. I have never tried morels, but i don't really make it out in the woods in the spring. Come fall though i'm living in the woods, and the football field.

Virginia redneck country that has to be entertaining

[Sparkwielder]

yep, the mountains It's so stereotypical, but it really is kinda hard to tell a lot of the people apart in this neighborhood.

I really love it here though. I met some nice people, lots of wild edible foods, and I can get alone in nature.

Lots of Chanterelles, Boletus and Oysters (Pleurotus) everywhere! The key is timing. You got to know when to get out there, and you gotta do it quick because the cycles go quick and there are lots of bugs here. Damned maggots always beat me to the Boletes!
I grow my own Shitakes, and thankfully the flies don't like them. The slugs occasionally get to them, but if a slug eats half a mushroom, I am willing to eat the other half

[dan]

The slugs occasionally get to them, but if a slug eats half a mushroom, I am willing to eat the other half

eww thought i was outdoorsy you got me beat

Is the Appalachians impressive as our Cascades?

[Sparkwielder]

Well, I have never been that far West. I have always wanted to see Oregon. I love waterfalls, and Oregon has lots of 'em.

I have been to Telluride in CO, and the scenery was amazing there. They have a lot of the same mushrooms that I am familiar with, but they are 10 times the size over there! They didn't have any Maitake there, which is one of my favorite 'shrooms, because they don't have Oak trees, just Aspen and Spruce.

The thing I learned that us Easterners can boast about is the wider variety of tree and plant species that we have in our older, and more worn down mountains.

[dan]

Our eagle caps (wallowa mts) could compete with Telluride, never been to Colorado just seen picts. Thats one great thing about Oregon we pretty much have it all (even rednecks ) Mountains, desert and ocean beaches

I wish i new someone like you that could show me the right mushrooms to pick, i just have to much fear of picking the wrong ones. Kidney transplants don't sound like a lot of fun

[Sparkwielder]

Theres nothing like going on a foray with experts, and seeing a real live specimen in your hands. Field guides alone just don't do it for beginners.

There has to be a Mycology club near you. I recomend browsing this page http://www.namyco.org/clubs/index.html

Group forays are a lot of fun, and that is how I learned the most in the shortest amount of time.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

Edit: Moderators; thank you for allowing newbies to post links 

[dan]

Thanks for the link, there's a club not far from me