just a quick note and a few pictures. – seems like anyone who spent some time in the woods this fall has noted what an exceptional year it was for fungus. Edibility was an afterthought as the trails were lined with waves of colors and textures. After last year’s low mass this was a nice fungal rebound that created a buzz in the woods (and around town) starting in July. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, the wonderfully pleasant fall we’ve had has provided a heavenly mix of timed rains (at appropriate locations, and in desried amounts) with epicly sunny, warm (a bit breezy) days. Perfect conditions for fungus -inspiring many that I hadn’t seen in my 6 falls of mushroom finding out here to state their presence with authority and bloom into the best fungus season I’ve experience on Vinalhaven. (Doesn’t say much as it was only my 7th but still.) Within my limited data set I’d say it was “exceptional” year. And While not going into detail of the season, I did have a few favorites and a story of a visitor who boldly states - “I’m 99% sure these are Chantrelles” - only to have 2 bags of False Chantrelles dumped onto my kitchen table, with 2 real Chantrelles mixed in. I hadn’t seen False Chantrelles , or Kuld-kukeseenik (Estonian), on vinalhaven before, and they were everywhere this fall and continue to be seen into November.
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| Oyster Mushroom |
The Oyster Mushroom, or Austerservik (Estonian) can be bountiful in June on the big-tooth aspen
in Acadia National Park, but I had not found it anywhere on Vinalhaven until (10/28) in the Basin.
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| Hemlock Varnish Shelf |
Also found in the basin is Hemlock Varnish Shelf, growing on a Hemlock, the only ones I’ve found on Vinalhaven (low number of Hemlocks may have an effect on HVS numbers)…
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| Red-mouthed bolete |
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| Blue-staining Bolete |
Boletes are always a treat to find and this year was a good bolete year for sure. Certain Boletes stain blue when torn/scratched, I’ve included a shot of a Red-mouthed bolete where some vandals had scratched in “Bolete” into the cap which then stained blue. We do not advocate this kind of behavior as Red-mouths are poisonous and not a fungus to mess with. I’ve also included a cool shot (judgement) of a Blue-staining Bolete that must have been kicked over or something in the trail and where the pores are clearly stained blue. Blue staining Bolete is a good name for it. This is hardly a scratch of the incredible fungal scene out here this year and along the coast. Hope you got to be out there and enjoy it….
