Photo by Wm. Baker

   
Home

Club Officers

Club Calendar

News & Notes

Photos

Downloads

Links

Archives

     

Club News & Notes 2008

  • January News: Welcome to the New Year
    Dave Yates presented excellent information on preparing for and surviving exposure in the wild if lost or hurt.
    Dave detailed items that need to be carried in case conditions are worse than expected:
    Sharp knife
    Map(s), compass, pencil, notebook
    Space blanket
    Personal first aid kit
    Layers of cloths to protect from rain and low temperatures (but not cotton, very bad if it becomes wet)
    Adequate quantity of drinking water
    Flashlight and batteries
    Lighter/matches or other fire starter
    High energy snack foods
    Nylon cordage
    Cooking container(s)
    Whistle/mirror for signaling

    Dave also provided descriptions for building shelter, starting fire, signaling for help
    There was a good discussion of sources and use of maps of various kinds such as:
    Road maps, such as the Roadrunner Guide
    Washington Road and Recreation Atlas purchased locally or via Internet
    National Forest Maps, available at Olympic Forest HQ, 1835 Black Lake Blvd, SW
    Washington Department of Natural Resources forest maps: Link here DNR
    United States Geological Society Link here USGS
    Computer map programs, for example from National Geographic: http://www.software-maps.com/national-geographic-topo-washington.htm

    Misc and Announcements
    Asha and Rafal Lipowski have added a new club member - Sara Izabella was born January 25th. Hopefully she will be ready to start mushroom picking soon :))
    You might be interested in the following article at appears in The Olympian today Feb. 6th. (provided by Melodie Gates):
    Olympian Article

  • February News: Club dues are due (Only $6.oo for the year).
    The February meeting will feature a program by a student, M J Smit, who with the help of Christopher Street and Ostrom Mushroom Farms, has been doing research on mushroom cultivation.
    Update!
    MJ did a great job on his presentation and is now preparing for a couple of science fairs. Below are a few pictures of the presentation with more info to come in the next newsletter.






  • March News: Last month M J Smit, ably assisted by his mother, presented a fascinating review of research he completed recently as a science fair project on the affects of varying nutrient concentrations on growing mushrooms, based on expert collaboration with Christopher Street of Ostrom Mushroom Farms. M J reported with graphs, photographs, and data tables the results of growing mushrooms with three different doses of the same growth nutrients that are widely used in mushroom farming.
    Some results.
    The concentrations were roughly a third of normal, normal concentration, and double normal concentrations.
    Growth rates for the three tests differed, as did the total number of pounds of mushrooms harvested from each.
    While the “overdosed” test produced more total mushrooms, it was well less than 2x that of the normal concentration, confirming that the best farming practices are most cost effective.
    Pictures and the demonstration test tray were quite effective
    M J even demonstrated the correct way to twist mushrooms from the growing bed to minimize damage to the mycelial mass below

    Some links to information on Dyeing with mushrooms just in time for the March program

    Information and recipes for dyeing with Mushrooms:
    All Fiber Arts

    13th International Fungi and Fiber Symposium - January, 2008
    13th IFFS

    Mushroom Dyes and Paper
    Yes, both dyeing and making paper from mushrooms!
    Soma Mushrooms

    There was some miscomunication about our meeting place and we couldn't gain access to the building. Thanks to the Yates' we were able to scramble over to their house and have our meeting. Thanks.
    Richard was able to perform his program and the club was told about the upcoming Morel forey as well as the Pacific NW Mushroom Festival coming to Lacey in June. We have recieved a letter and an email asking us if we would like to participate. More info to come later.

  • April News:

  • May News:

  • June News: No Meeting.

  • July News: No Meeting.

  • August News: Club Picnic.

  • September News:

  • October News:

  • November News:

  • December News:


Club News & Notes 2007

Bits and pieces from the monthly newsletter & more.
  • January News:
       *     *     *     *     *     *     * 
    Happy New Year!
    Our January 2007 meeting will feature a video about truffles.
     
                         *     *     *     *         * 
    Notes from South Sound Mushroom Club Meeting  December 13, 2006
     
        The club Christmas potluck meeting was held a week early due to the pending holidays, with many members not being available later due to travel and other plans.   Although we did not have a large crowd, we really enjoyed each others company as we shared the delicious dishes, an exchange of mystery gifts, as well a drawing for door prizes.  
     
      A proposal was made and seconded for Tom Keller to continue for a second year as president, with Richard Glass continuing as vice president as well as taking up primary responsibility for club newsletter (for which I need to take better notes during meetings through the year!), to be assisted by Dolly Yates. 
     
      The sign-up list for refreshments and programs was reviewed, with some slots still open. There was discussion of possible programs to fill out the calendar. Please consider volunteering for presenting or hosting a program this year.  

     As this was the potluck dinner (and due to the bad weather) there were no specimens for display and identification, though we did enjoy many flavorful dishes featuring mushrooms.


  • February News:
    Program for Our February 2007 meeting , shall be presented by Dave Yates: The program will cover maps - types, uses, and where to get them; compasses and how to use them; basic safety equipment and rules; and the uses and limitations of modern technology. He will bring a few sample maps printed from the National Geographic Washington TOPO program, which has maps for the entire state available on CD's.
    The TOPO program has one disk to load on your computer, and four disks which have maps for the entire state; it allows you to combine areas from two adjacent disks to get a map that covers any area.
    Please come out Wednesday to enjoy the company and see Dave's interesting program... and don't forget to bring your yearly membership dues. Still only $5/person, or $10 for the whole family. * * * * * * * * * * *
    Notes from South Sound Mushroom Club Meeting January 15, 2007
    The January meeting featured a fascinating video on Truffle hunting recorded in November by club president Tom Keller from the Travel Channel "Best Places to Find Cash and Treasures" show (see description below).
    Richard Gaines provided information about the nature of truffles in the Northwest, including discussion of varieties found in Washington and Oregon and some suggestions for hunting strategies. Richard also descrbed activities of the North American Truffle Society for which information can be found at http://www.natruffling.org/ , an excerpt from which follows:
    What is NATS? Founded in 1978, the North American Truffling Society is a non-profit organization based in Corvallis, Oregon, that brings together amateurs and professionals who are interested in hypogeous (belowground) fungi. The mission of NATS is to enhance the scientific knowledge of North American truffles and truffle-like fungi, and promote educational activities related to truffles and truffle-like fungi.
    And finally, our somewhat skimpy January (mid-winter ) speciman table:

    · Earth Stars Astraeus hygrometricus?
    · Polypore ??
    · Puff Balls Lycoperdon perlatum?
    · pretty little Mycena (Pura?) growing on a board
    · Collybia
    · Grey gilled wood lover Hypholoma Capnoides

    Email Notes --
    Here is the latest Newsletter: http://morelmushroomhunting.com/newsletter_january_2008.htm Gather your best mushroom photos, the 6th annual Mushroom Photo Contest will be open for entries on January 15th! Also, on January 15th, the winners will be announced for the Wild Mushroom Recipe Cooking Contest! Take your best guess at the mushroom of the month, and see if last month's guess was correct: http://morelmushroomhunting.com/mushroom_of_the_month.htm If you are not yet a member of the club, or your membership has expired, please take the time now to join or renew! Don't miss out on all our fun! http://www.morelmushroomhunting.com/renewmembership.htm http://morelmushroomhunting.com/Join1.html

  • March News:
    Program for Our March 2007 meeting , shall be presented by ??? :
    The program this month will include a tribute to Gloria Ford, with rememberances and a program she presented a few years ago. If time permits we will also view a video on growing oyster mushrooms.
    Please come out Wednesday to enjoy the company and share thoughts of Gloria ... and don't forget to bring your yearly membership dues. Still only $5/person, or $10 for the whole family.
    * * * * * * * * * * * Notes from South Sound Mushroom Club Meeting February 21, 2007
    Dave Yates presented very helpful information on "How to Avoid Getting Lost" and "Maps for Mushroomers", portions of which I have summarized below, with added illustrations from researching the ideas Dave presented on the internet.
    Avoiding getting lost discussions included reviwing a list of ten essentials for safety, weather changes and unexpected delays:
    Extra clothing (can sometimes be improvised: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/10-2-2005-77987.asp)
    Provide protection from rain, winter/night cold, summer sun, or pushing through brush. Extra socks and an insulating hat are good ideas. Vests/ponchos of bright colors can both protect you from the weather and assist searchers to spot you. Dave also strongly recommended having a survival/emergency-thermal blanket, which are inexpensive and light weight.
    Discussion on Maps:
    Dave described different types and sources of maps. 5-County Roadrunner guide is quite useful, with details of the local road system, though often lacks forest roads (which are fairly often renumbered as well).
    National Forest maps are available at the National Forest Headquarters 1835 Black Lake Blvd. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/olympic/ maps intormation: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/olympic/maps/ USGS maps. http://geography.usgs.gov/
    Department of natural resources: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/dataandmaps/maps/index.html
    About GPS and Cell-phones/radios:
    GPS are most useful for finding specific locations if you have them already marked in the GPS, like where your vehicle is locate and points along a trail. Beware cases where limited ability to pick up satelites can make them useless (in deep forests or some valleys with limited sataelite reception) and avoid running batteries down..
    Cell-phones often have little or no reception away from populated areas Short range radios are useful within a local area and can sometimes reach much farther from higher locations on hills, since they rely on line of sight transmissions.

  • April News:
    Hi all: We are getting geared up and excited about getting out to hunt for morels. Join us on May 11th and 12th for a fun weekend. The cost is only $12.00 per person per night. We'll hunt all day Saturday and have a group potluck Sat. evening at 6:00 pm. Bring your own bedding, towels and toiletries. The kitchen is stocked with all cooking supplies. Let me know as soon as possible, because space is limited.
    Best wishes and happy hunting. Tom


  • May News:


  • June News: No Meeting.


  • July News: No Meeting.


  • August News: Club Picnic.

    Hi, everybody!!! Remember the South Sound Mushroom Club potluck picnic Sunday, August 19, 2007. It will be at the home of Dave and Dolly.
    Come any time after 1 PM and we'll eat about 3. It's on Hicks Lake, where the water is good for swimming. We have several non-motorized watercraft (canoes, rowboat). If you plan to get wet, please bring your own towels.
    Melodie has 4 dehydrators that belonged to Gloria Ford. They will be for sale for $5 apiece. She also has some baskets. See you there


  • September News:
    Hi all: It's Chanterelle time. I'm getting reports that they are plentiful. We are meeting at the parking area for the fish hatchery at 9:00 am on Sat. Sept. 15th.
    We will be parked on the right (as soon as you turn left, look for cars). We will carpool from there (about 14 miles). I hope you can make it. Also don't forget we have our Sept meeting at 7:00 pm on Weds. Sept. 19th. at the same location (Assoc. of Realtors Building on Stoll Road).
    Best wishes and happy hunting. Tom

  • October News:
    The October 2007 meeting will feature a discussion on mushrooms identification by Melodie Gates
    * * * * * * * * * * *
    Notes from South Sound Mushroom Club Meeting September 19, 2007
    The September meeting was well attended, with lots of excitement about the mushroom season that was already off to a good start. There were already reports of a very successful trip which found many chanterelle on an early club outing that many old and new members enjoyed in the area of Browns Creek Park (NW of Shelton).
    For the program Richard Glass presented slides and discused three topics relating to Human's complex relationship with Mushrooms through history:
    Mushrooms Through History: from pre-historic and early historical perspectives on mushrooms, noting that mushroom's acceptance has ranged from worship to condemnation.
    Mushroom in Human nutrition: the major tissue of mushrooms is only partially digestable by humans but they still provide many nutritional benefits
    Modern Human Propagation of Mushrooms: immense tonnage of mushrooms produced around the world and in the USA, types grown, and where are they grown.
    There were a good number of early fall specimens for the identification table for naming by our experts, with lots of helpful descriptions of identifying features for visitors and new members. Be sure to bring specimens you have found recently to the Wednesday meeting to share in identification with the club.
    * * * * * * * * * * *
    Since the September meeting there have been more successful forrays and this last weekend to the coast, for which I'm sure we will have interesting trip reports at the October meeting.
    Second forray species report (thanks to Richard Gaines)
    Summary: 24 fungi species and 4 lichen species.
    Lactarius pallescens: Purple-Staining Milk cap
    Russula xerampelina: Shrimp Russula Edible
    Russula brevipies var. acrior Short-Stemmed Russula Edible
    Russula sp. one of the Pepper Russalas It was like a Shrimp but had a hot peppery taste.
    Collybia confluens Tufted Collybia
    Strobilaris trullisatus complex Pine Cone Strobilarus
    Mycena pura group Lilac Mycena
    Xeromphalina cauticinalis Little Brown Parachute
    Amanita sp. one with a sheathing vulva sack It was small, delicate, tall,thin, Pale yellow capped, white stem, with appressed membranous annulus (skirt), and a slightly bulbous base.
    Cortinarius sodagnitus group Violet Brown Cort.
    Paxillus atrotomentosus Violet Pax It was common and has interesting dye potential.
    Chroogumphus tomentosus Wooly Pine Spike Edible
    Polyporus hirtus Iodine Polypore common
    Polyporus badius Black-Leg, or Black Footed Polypore
    Coltricia cinnamomeus Fairy Stool abundant - sometimes used in floral arrangements
    Phaeolus schweinitzii Dyers polypore
    Cantharellus formosus (no longer referred to as C. cibarius) Yellow chanterelle Edible (abundant enough for everyone to get some)
    Cantharellus subalbidus White Chanterelle common - Edible
    Clavulina sp. Small White Spored Coral These were blue-green and appeared deformed.
    Lycoperdon pyriforme Pear-Shaped Puffball These were mature, tall, yellow and in a dense cluster. Edible, good when young
    Hypomyces lactiflua Lobster Mushroom Edible
    Hypogeus (truffle like) fungi found were all Hymenogastrales and include : Truncocolumella citrina Citrus Yellow False-Truffle Found in rocky soil
    Rhizopogon sp. (perhaps R. villosulus) Common Sponge False-Truffle Found in decayed woody soil
    Hymenogastrale Gen. sp. (unidentified) perhaps Cystangium sp. Found in alluvial gravely soil.
    Lichens taken note of include: Lobaria oregana Conifer Lung-wart
    Alectoria vancouverensis Low-Land Witch's Hair
    Cladonia squamosa Leafy Pixie Stalk
    Icmadophila ericetorum Fairy Barf

    Mainly Mushroom Nature Walks

    Once again it is that time of year when a bewildering array of colorful and strange, large and small, ominous and inviting fungal curiosities of the forest and field show their presence in abundant numbers and variety.
    With a bit of knowledge, some common sense, and the observation of a few simple rules, mushroom collecting and eating is something anyone, young or old, can safely pursue and enjoy.
    Mainly Mushroom Nature Walks with Richard Gaines is offering a fall forays from which to launch your fungal curiosity. Forays will provide you with the opportunity to harvest for food, art, craft, and examination. Delicacies will be found.
    Foray Leader; Richard Gaines has a BS. in natural history and over thirty years experience collecting mushrooms for food, art, science, craft, and curiosity. He is a long standing member of Northwest mushroom clubs and has made notable contributions to the mushroom science world.
    Forays will be through October and November in the South Puget Sound region. Be prepared for wetness (rain pants are especially useful). Bring a basket or bucket for collecting, bags (paper along with larger plastic bags are best) and a pocketknife. A pencil and note pad may also be useful. A snack or bag lunch is nice. A compass and a whistle can be handy (or necessary for any serious woods explorer). Some collecting materials and identification information will be available.
    Cost; $20.00 per individual, $60 per family or $60 minimum to lead a hunt
    For registration and information call Richard Gaines at (360) 349-1319 or Ann Buck at (360) 352-9301, or stop in at Buck¹s fifth Avenue, 209 Fifth Avenue East, Olympia, WA
    Scheduled hunts: To Be Announced - Call to make arrangements
    Individualized hunts, property surveys and mushroom identifications, can also be arranged..


    Mushroom Workshops 07

    Getting to Know Mushrooms, Their Diversity, and Their Uses
    This fall I am offering two, weekend, mushroom foraging workshops. The workshops will be held at two beautiful locations. Cabins, group cooking and meeting facilities are provided. Come prepared with sleeping bag, and food for the weekend. Our potluck style dinners will feature some of the fungal fructifications we forage. Participants will learn basic safe and sane identification and foraging skills as well as about the edibility and other uses of Mushrooms and Lichens. People are encouraged to arrive and settle in on Friday. Additional accommodations can be found in near by towns.
    Workshop # 1 - Fungal Foraging by the Sea
    Sherwood Forest Camp Oct. 19th - 21st, Other dates TBA: Workshop will be held on southwest Washington's, Long Beach Peninsula. The site is twelve miles north of the town of Long Beach on the Willapa Bay side of the peninsula. This camp has cabins in various degrees of renovation, a central cooking and gathering house, as well as a sauna and showers. Other camping space is also plentiful. Dyeing (not dying) with mushrooms and Lichens may also be included in the workshop. There could be some oyster and clam picking as well.
    Workshop # 2 - Mushrooming for Food, for Form and for Dye Making
    Lobster Valley: Nov. 2th - 4th, Other Dates TBA : Workshop is held on a willow farm and home of the Ancient Arts and Technologies learning and workshop center. It is located in Lobster Valley twelve miles out of the tiny town of Alsea in Oregon's coastal mountains. Lodging will be in cabins and a yurt. There is a central cooking and meeting house. There is also space for camping. Additional instruction on dyeing (not dying) with mushrooms and lichens is also offered.
    Instructor, Richard Gaines: Has thirtty years experience identifying and foraging for mushrooms; has college mycology background; has been an active member of mushrooming and mycology clubs and organizations including;
    South Sound Mushroom Club (SSMC)
    North American Truffeling Society (NATS)
    North American Mycological Association (NAMA)
    He also is associated with well known mushroomers and mycologists such as Paul Stamets, James Trappe, and David Pilz, and was among of the first people in Olympia WA to own a copy of Mushrooms Demystified !!!
    Additional instructor (workshop # 2) Margaret Mathewson, from Lobster Valley:
    Has a Ph.D. in ethnobotany specializing in fiber arts, has many years experience teaching primitive technologies and keeps an exceptional, diverse, and productive garden landscape on her willow farm.
    Cost, Contact and Registration
    The cost of these seminars is $100 per participant. A $ 20 deposit will assure you a spot. Group size is limited and is on a first come first serve basis. For motivated individuals alternate payment arrangements are possible. Dogs are discouraged. For questions call workshop sites; Sherwood Forest, 360 665-4733 or 360 665-4750 - Lobster Valley, 541 486-4311
    For registration, information and directions, contact me, Richard Gaines at: 360 349-1319 or rgaines3@earthlink.net.


  • November News:
    Notes from South Sound Mushroom Club Meeting October 17, 2007 We had a really good turn out for the October meeting as the 2007 really fantastic fall mushroom season was winding down. There were more reports of successful forays ranging the Olympic Mountains to the seashore. A wide variety of mushrooms were seen everywhere in an amazing natural bounty. For the October program Melody Gates held a discussion on mushroom identification. She emphasized the basics of using typing guides to identify key characteristics of each specimen. Melody discussed several sources of keys, including those in a variety of books and in online programs. The identification table was filled end to end with many familiar and unusual specimens. There was lots of discussion, close examination, and smelling (there was at least one that was pretty far gone and … well it was pretty rank!).

  • December News:




Club News & Notes 2006

  • January News: The January 18th meeting will feature a program by Richard Gaines about his fungal adventures at Ledbetter Point, Long Beach.

    Oregon truffle lovers! There is a big event for you January 27 to 29. Call Steven Remington (541) 517-6707 for hunts, tours, cooking, lectures, and workshops all on this Oregon delicacy.

    South Sound Mushroom Club Meeting December 14, 2005
    Thick fog marring a full moon didn't hamper the merriment and business of this, our last meeting of the year. But we missed the absentees! A full slate of officers was presented and unanimously approved. Mushrooms were included in some of the entrees - - chanterelles and Agaricus bisporus. A charming table decor featured a candle and moss embedded with fresh specimens of Hygrophorus conicus, Helvella lacunosa and Stropharia ambigua. Other fungi on display were a piece of Ganoderma annularis (related to the artist's conk) and spore prints of the rare Stropharia squamosa.

    In a review of the past year, most thought it was fairly good. Marie, a veteran picker, thought it was getting like mall shopping - - many more people out there picking.

  • February News: The February 15th meeting will feature a program by Gloria Ford with a mushroom quiz.

    The Oregon white truffle grows as far north as British Columbia - - so there is a good chance we can find them near by. With a small rake (minus a truffle dog or pig) loosen the soil over the roots of Douglas firs. Mature truffles have a garlicky scent. Restore the soil after searching.
    Get an early start looking for the false morel, Verpa bohemica. Look for cottonwood trees near water and look among the fallen leaves.

    Meeting January 18, 2006
    Happily a dry spell came at our meeting time - - the beginning of our 32nd year. These rainy days are perfect for reading, as evidenced from the table covered with books: three attributed to Olympia's Margaret McKenney; the new Paul Stamets Mycelium Running with many illustrations and a good read; a mushroom cookbook by Seattlite Cynthia Nims who is well known for writing about Northwest natural products; and an offering from the Oregon based North America Truffle Society listing truffles with explicit descriptions. The Kellers showed their cherished water color of an Amanita muscaria by Margaret McKenney.
    Our 19th president, Tom Keller, introduced club officers and welcomed members and guests. He encouraged all to volunteer for the good of the club. Tom is adding this position to his mountaineering and teaching interests.

    The program was given by Richard Gaines, a club member, Evergreen graduate, and devotee of nature. He had the privilege of hunting in Ledbetter Refuge, Long Beach, one October in exchange for a mushroom species list. He found many specimens but the prize Boletus edulis showed only once.

  • March News: The March 15th meeting will feature MORELS!!
    Yes, although it's a couple of months until those delectable fungi will be showing, there is only one more club meeting before the Roslyn foray. This meeting we'll see a video on finding and preparing morels. We also need to start planning for the trip to Roslyn.
    By the end of this month we should be finding the false morel, Verpa bohemica - - also a good edible, if you take a few precautions. Look for cottonwood trees near water and look among the fallen leaves.

    Meeting February 15, 2006
    The meeting had only about half the regular attendance - - was it the frigid weather and the cold going around? Recovering president Tom held a short business meeting, reminding members of the morel trip; leader Joe Tillman is scheduled to tell us more.

    The program was given by charter member and five-time president Gloria Ford, showing slides of fungi she and Margaret McKenny had taken. Morel clusters and full baskets of chanterelles brought anticipatory sounds. Gloria is soon on her way to Costa Rica, looking not for fungi but for birds.

  • April News: Jim Pruske will present the program for The April 19th meeting. He will present a history in pictures of our Roslyn forays. This should be a memorable show - - lots of wonderful reminiscences. If you are planning to participate in the Roslyn foray this year, please get your money to Melodie at or before the April club meeting.

    This will be the last local meeting until September, as the May meeting will be held at the foray in Roslyn and we skip the summer months of June, July and August. However, there is a potluck picnic in August that always has lots of wonderful food ! There will probably be some field trips, too they will be announced when scheduled.

    Club Meeting March 15, 2006
    Members anticipating information on the morel trip were not disappointed. Leader Joe Tillman said it is hard to set a date so far ahead, but he is hoping May 19-20 will hit the mark. He handed out flyers with all the information. Sign up and send your check to Treasurer Melodie.
    Bonnie H. Thought a Morel Olympics would be fun. Roslyn will find Tom with ruler and camera to honor the biggest (and smallest?) Morel. Large morels have been found locally, so keep searching.

    Vice-President and Librarian Richard Glass, assisted by William Baker, is cataloging all the Club's library to be put on the Web.

    President Tom called about a trip to Fungi Perfecti but they are busy with building. A trip to Ostrom's will definitely be set up later. Program suggestions are always welcome. Renate Rogers is writing to David Arora for a program.

    The I. D. Table was covered with many books about mushrooms. The specimens were all from a forest in the Glass's yard:
    Stropharia ambigua - - black spores; it is known only from the Pacific coast.
    Inocybe sp. - - small, brown spores; toxic
    Lenzites - - decays processed wood; a polypore with gills. Now called Gloephyllum

  • May News: The May meeting will be held at the Roslyn foray. The ID table there should be awesome!!!

    The August picnic will be on Sunday, August 20, 2006 at the Yates'. We hope the weather will be good enough for swimming and boating (we have a couple of canoes, a rowboat and a paddle boat.)

    Did you see the recent news story in the May 4 Olympian about mushroom poisoning? Apparently some local folks ate Amanita pantherina, thinking they were edible. MISTAKE!!! Some excerpts from the article:
    Three people were hospitalized Wednesday after eating poisonous mushrooms. Two were in intensive care, Thurston County's Public Health Officer reported.
    They picked the mushrooms because they look similar to ones they could find in Thailand. Doctors expect them to recover, and one already was able to communicate.
    [Health Officer] Diana Yu thinks the mushroom species is amanita pantherina, which is bowl-shaped when mature but resembles store-bought mushrooms when smaller. They're toxic but not usually deadly and distinguishable by white bumps or warts on the surface.

    Meeting April 19, 2006
    The meeting was called to order by Vice President, Richard Glass. President Tom Keller was teaching a class. There were 21 members and guests present.

    Joe Tillman reported that the Roslyn trip will be May 19 and 20. So far there are 18 people signed up. Cost is $12 a night. The May meeting will be held at Roslyn. The potluck will be Saturday night. Karen Keller advised everyone to bring sleeping bags and towels.
    There will be a contest for the biggest and smallest morel.
    Treasurer Melodie Gates is collecting dues and also collecting for the Roslyn trip.

    Jim Pruske presented the program of slides he has taken on previous Roslyn trips. It was very interesting, especially for the new people to see the town of Roslyn and the Roslyn Inn where they will be staying. There were great pictures of all the morels, and giant puffballs, and other species that they will be looking for.

    The specimen table had a beautiful, giant 4 inch morel that Bonnie Hayford had found in her neighbors yard.
    Other items on the table were:
    Amanita Pantherina
    Clitocybe Odora
    Inocybe
    Verpa Bohemica
    Inky Caps (Coprinus atramentarius)
    Birds Nest Mushroom
    Amanita Muscaria Buttons
    Morchella Elata (Black Morel)
    And of course the beautiful Morchella Esculenta (Blonde Morel)

  • June News: No Meeting.
    Morel Roundup in Roslyn,May 19-21st, 2006
    Report submitted by Tom and Karen Keller

    Attendees: Karen Keller, Tom Keller, Gloria Ford, Mark McKnight, Jim Pruske, Ken Adney, Kim Adney, Shanie Whelan, Daughter-Whelan, Daughter-Whelan, Matt Overfield, Bob Bigley, Renae Rogers, Joe Tillman, Jonathon Tillman, Richard Glass, Bettye Glass, Jason Gu, Rob Torner, John Settle.

    The weather started out very warm on Friday, but by Friday evening it had turned to rain. Saturday was a little wet with the showers, but nice when they passed. Most people found just a few morels, which were few and far between. We still had a great outing anyway, even not finding many mushrooms.
    We had a short meeting on Sat., officers attending were: Tom Keller, President and Richard Glass, Vice President. We discussed the Morel Olympics. The prize for the largest morel goes to Renae Rogers and the prize for the smallest morel goes to Joe Tillman. (This idea for the Morel Olympics came from Bonnie Hayford).
    We discussed the recent newspaper article about the mushroom poisoning in Lacey, and reminded members to be safe and be sure to identify mushroom with 100% accuracy before eating.
    There were many great dishes at the Sat. potluck, so thanks to all the chefs. Most people left for home Sunday morning.

    Species found:
    Morchella elata (Black Morel)
    Calbovista subsculpta (Warted Giant Puffball)
    Ramaria rasilispora (Yellow Coral)
    Gyromitra gigas (Giant Helvella)
    Coprinus micaceus (Shiny Cap)
    Hygrophorus subalpinus (Subalpine Waxy Cap)
    Hygrophorus russula (False Russula)
    Coriolus versicolor or Trametes versicolor (Many Colored Polypore or Turkey Tail)
    Ganoderma applanatum (Artist's Fungus)
    Nidula candida (Bird's Nest Fungi)
    Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (Jelly Fungi)
    Tremella mesenterica (Witch's butter).

  • July News: No Meeting.

  • August News: Club Picnic.

  • September News:

    SSMC started a new season on Sept. 20, 2006 with Tom Keller presiding. The Sunshine person will be Helen Todd - - let her know of members who could use an encouraging word. The program was Genetic Diversity of Mushrooms and recent research of underground mycorrhizal structure, given by Richard Glass.
    Sept. 30 will be a trip to Ostromâs; meet with Mr. Street, the owner, at the farm at 9:30 a.m.
    Dave Yates will look into the location of the CleElum fires for the spring hunting of corals, puffballs and morels. Richard Gaines showed some fragrant matsutake - - it was a surprise to find them before chanterelles.
    The summer picnic was reported as great - - with eleven members attending. The day was nice and the food great.


  • October News: President Tom Keller will present the program "Identification of Northwest Mushrooms, an Overview."

    There were 10 who went on the field trip to Ostroms Mushroom Plant on September 30. We saw the preparation process and some of the challenges commercial mushroom growing faces. We observed myriad tables of prolifically growing Agaricus, and each of us got a basket of fresh mushrooms to take home! Richard Glass took a lot of photos we hope will be available at the meeting. (Thanks, Richard for the ones you sent via e-mail, but not everyone got to see those.)
    The November meeting will feature a hands-on cooking program. December is our potluck
    Raffle tickets were sold for 3/$1.50.
    The program for November will be about cooking with mushrooms. Please bring a mushroom dish to share and the recipe for it. If you would be willing to do a demonstration, that would be WONDERFUL!! But consider that facilities for cooking are very limited.

    Report from recent hunts by Melodie, Gloria and others: Chanterelles, but not as many as hoped Sparassis, wormy Oyster mushrooms (Yum!) Puffballs Laccaria amethestina - - pretty but not good to eat

    Richard Gaines will conduct mushroom workshops November 10-12 at Long Beach, WA and November 24-26 in Lobster Valley, OR. The cost is $100 per person.

    Getting to Know Mushrooms, Their Diversity, and Their Uses This fall I am offering two, weekend, mushroom foraging workshops. The workshops will be held at two beautiful locations. Cabins, group cooking and meeting facilities are provided. Come prepared with sleeping bag, and food for the weekend. Our potluck style dinners will feature some of the fungal fructifications we forage. Participants will learn basic safe and sane identification and foraging skills as well as about the edibility and other uses of Mushrooms and Lichens. People are encouraged to arrive and settle in on Friday. Additional accommodations can be found in near by towns. Workshop # 1 - Fungal Foraging by the Sea Sherwood Forest Camp Nov 10th -12th: Workshop will be held on southwest Washington's, Long Beach Peninsula. The site is twelve miles north of the town of Long Beach on the Willapa Bay side of the peninsula. This camp has cabins in various degrees of renovation, a central cooking and gathering house, as well as a sauna and showers. Other camping space is also plentiful. Dyeing (not dying) with mushrooms and Lichens may also be included in the workshop. There could be some oyster and clam picking as well. Workshop # 2 - Mushrooming for Food, for Form and for Dye Making Lobster Valley: Nov. 24th-26th : Workshop is held on a willow farm and home of the Ancient Arts and Technologies learning and workshop center. It is located in Lobster Valley twelve miles out of the tiny town of Alsea in Oregon's coastal mountains. Lodging will be in cabins and a yurt. There is a central cooking and meeting house. There is also space for camping. Additional instruction on dyeing (not dying) with mushrooms and lichens is also offered. Instructor, Richard Gaines: Has over twenty five years experience identifying and foraging for mushrooms; has college mycology background; has been an active member of mushrooming and mycology clubs and organizations. Additional instructor (workshop # 2) Margaret Mathewson, from Lobster Valley: Has a Ph.D. in ethnobotany specializing in fiber arts, has many years experience teaching primitive technologies and keeps an exceptional, diverse, and productive garden landscape on her willow farm. Cost, Contact and Registration The cost of these seminars is $100 per participant. A $ 20 deposit will assure you a spot. Group size is limited and is on a first come first serve basis. For motivated individuals alternate payment arrangements are possible. Dogs are discouraged. For questions call workshop sites; Sherwood Forest, 360 665-4733 or 360 665-4750 - Lobster Valley, 541 486-4311 For registration, information and directions, contact me, Richard Gaines at: 360 349-1319 or rgaines3@earthlink.net.

    We welcomed several members whom we had not seen for some time, as well as some new attenders. President Tom Keller presented a program with photos of mushrooms to be found here in the Pacific Northwest. The raffle featured many baskets of various sizes and designs. Everyone who bought tickets was a winner!!

  • November News:



  • December News:



Club News & Notes 2005

  • January News: Welcome to the New Year and thanks from club President. Club expenses are paid and we have built a little nest egg. December Potluck was a success! We had a great gift exchange and raffle.

  • February News: The new website design is up. Club dues are due (still only $5.oo for the year). Club elections - present slate endorsed (still need vp). Tenative meeting agendas and forays set (ideas include Ocean Shores, Capitol Forest, Ostroms, Fungi Perfecti). Watched Dr. Beug's video on non-gilled fungi.

  • March News: Damien Pack of Fungi Perfecti moved from Virginia to Washington because of all the fungi here. He talked about duplicating Mother Nature using kits to grow mushrooms, and how to use spawn plugs in logs to grow "Oysters" in the garden. The ID table had interesting postage stamps featuring fungi from the South Pacific island of Vanuatu.

  • April News: New Domain/Website is up.
    After socializing and inspecting specimens, Pres. Karen introduced the clubs sole charter member (year 1974), Gloria Ford. Gloria has been president more than once and led several forays while teaching and now is in retirement. We shared her slides of successful hunts, shown by basketfuls of edibles and other fungi just interesting to look at.
    We were presented to Ranger Kelly Burke of Millersylvania State Park by Richard Gaines. She wanted to discuss possible rules for picking mushrooms in the park. Parks Rule Change can be viewed here!
    Member William Baker made good on his publicity work. Wow! William senses the club will decline without advertising.
    The Roslyn trip is being reconsidered due to the drought. More on this as time and weather go by.
    The program was given by our able treasurer, Melodie Gates. She was introduced to the club by a friend in the late ˜70s. Being a natural out-of-doors person, she rapidly has become one of our Mighty Hunters. In the˜70s Alexander Smith was the top authority and Melodie recommends his books, especially "A Field Guide to Western Mushrooms". She gave out copies of Kit Scates Simplified Picture Key to 55 Genera of Gilled Mushrooms.

  • May News: Because this was the 25th anniversary of the Mt. St. Helens eruption, Karen had many old newspapers from her school, printed during that time. A survivor of that terrific blast is one of our members, Bonnie Hayford. She recalled fleeing the campground near Clear Lake, 50 miles east of the volcano, while on a morel hunt with Dr. Michael Beugs mushroom class.
    The ID table: A few members found Morels. Richard Gaines brought several dried specimens from the foray; especially interesting was a blue hygrophorus, found by Cody Matson. Roslyn hunters had found 12 different agarics (gilled), 9 different polypores, 6 different gastromyces (spores in a stomach puffballs) and 7 different ascomyces (spores in microscopic sacs, morels). Local fungi: Collybia, Marasmius creades (fairy ring), toxic Inocybes, toxic Amanita pantherina, Peziza badia, and a slime mold, Fuligo septica.
    Roslyn trip is on the weekend of the 7th & 8th.
    The weather around Roslyn was great! Great people, great food, great fun! Lot's of wildlife to be seen like Elk, Deer, Coyotes, all kinds of birds and even a black bear cub.
    A special thanks to Jim, Richard, Karen and Tom for helping the newbies out. We also enjoyed Richard Glass's using his laptop to show mushrooms at the foray, scenes at the Inn and dryers working as the hunting was good.
    More posted about this trip here.

    Attendance was low at the Roslyn foray so there will be another foray the weekend of May 21. Contact Joe Tillman or Melodie Gates for details.

  • June News: No Meeting.

  • July News: No Meeting.

  • August News: Club Picnic. The annual potluck picnic was held August 21 at the Yates. It was a beautiful summer day. Those of us who came had a very pleasant afternoon and plenty of delicious food.

  • September News:
    Richard Glass gave a great presentation on "Mushrooms Around the Globe". He provided us with fabulous photos and great comentary on how we may be closely related to fungi.
    We also had a few new faces at this meeting.

    Tom Keller will be teaching a class on mushroom identification at South Puget Community College.
    Sept 21st through Oct 5th 2005, 3 Evenings-Weds. 7-9:00 pm
    South Puget Community College
    To register call : 360-754-8489 ext. 11
    Course Cost: $50.00

    Richard Gaines will be conducting 3 mushroom foraging workshops. Click here to see flier
    The cost of these seminars is $100 per participant. A $ 20 deposit will assure you a spot.
    Club members will get a $20 discount.
    To register call: 360 753-2947

  • October News:

    Fall Foray to Capitol Forest
    October 1, Saturday. Meet at the Mud Bay Park and Ride at 9 AM. We will carpool as much as possible, passengers chipping in for gas. Bring a lunch and the usual essentials for mushroom hunting.

    October 15, Saturday. Jim Pruske will lead a mushroom trip at Priest Point Park. Meet in the upper parking lot at 9 AM. This is under the auspices of the Black Hills Audubon Society. Please call their office at 352-7299 to sign up.

    Another Fall Foray
    October 29, Saturday. Foray to Westport. Plans will be firmed up at the October club meeting.

    Capitol Forest Report. Submitted by: Tom & Karen Keller

    Attendees: Willie Baker Al Stover (Willie's friend), Karen Keller,Tom Keller,Gloria Ford, Jim Pruske Richard Glass, Marie Strobl

    We met our foray leader, Willie Baker at the Mud Bay Park and Ride at 9:00 am. From there we carpooled to the Rock Candy Mountain entrance and then followed Willy in the lead car (Dodge truck). He took us to several areas near Capitol Peak; all were around the 2,000ft level. We had a successful hunt with everyone finding Chanterelles. We ended the foray about 1:30 pm. The weather was cool and cloudy, raining just as we were ending the outing.

    Species found:

    Cantharellus cibarius (Chanterelle)
    Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (False Chanterelle)
    Suillus lakei (Matte Jack)
    Boletus mirabilis (Admirable Bolete)
    Naematoloma fasciculare (Sulfur Tuft)
    Coprinus atramentarius (Alcohol Inky Cap)
    Pleurocybella porrigens (Angel Wings)
    Russula brevipes (Short-stemmed Russula)
    Russula xerampelina (Shrimp Mushroom)
    Lactarius rufus (Red Hot Milk Cap)
    Laetiporus sulphureus (Sulfur Shelf, Chicken of the woods)
    Ganoderma applanatum (Artist's Conk)
    Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail)
    Hypomyces lactifluorum (Lobster Mushroom-Russula brevipes)
    Amanita muscaria (Fly Amanita)
    Lycoperdon pyriforme (Pear-shaped Puffball)
    Clavulina cristata (Crested Coral)
    Nidula candida (Bird's Nest Fungi)
    Tremella mesenterica (Jelly Fungus, Witch's Butter)


    From Willie:
    I had a great time taking the club members to some of my favorite mushroom spots. I feel bad that some of the best spots were a little hard to access for some, but everyone picked some edibles.

    What sticks out in my mind was an exchange between Jim and myself. We were picking on a South East slope about 40 yards apart and Jim tells me that "there is something between us" and I answer, "What?". Jim says that there is a "large animal in between us" and that he can't see it, but he can hear it. I answer back that I always see deer in this area and that I noticed alot of fresh coyote scat on the way in. Jim says he noticed the scat as well. I continue picking for another ten minutes and then head to the upper road where Gloria, Marie and Al are chatting. When I reach the top Al pulls me aside to tell me that we "kicked out" a bear and it was heading right toward him and Marie until it heard them and decided to head down hill and away from the group.

    I would also like to thank Al Stover for allowing me to share "our patches" with the club.

  • November News:
    Members could be better at recognizing mushrooms after hearing our speaker, Eugene Butler, give a learned talk on the character of the many mushrooms. Some features that can be seen with the naked eye are veils, rings, odors (smell), spore color, and the different gill attachments to the stem. There are dangerous look-alikes so knowing the different characters is important.

    The full moon seemed to predict good things - - and we had two tables full of mushrooms that Tom, Bonnie, Helen and Richard were kept busy identifying. Including:

    Amanita calyptroderma (Coccora)
    Amanita muscaria (Fly Amanita)
    Armillaria mellea (Honey Mushroom)
    Boletus chrysenteron (Yellow-fleshed Boletus)
    Boletus zelleri (Zeller's Bolete)
    Cantharellus cibarius (Chanterelle)
    Cantharellus subalbidus (White Chanterelle)
    Clavulina cristata (Crested White Coral)
    Coprinus lagopus (Hairy Coprinus)
    Cortinarius phoeniceus var. occidentalis (Western Red-dye)
    Ganoderma applanatum (Artist's Conk)
    Gomphidius subroseus (Rosy Gomphidius)
    Gomphidius oregonensis (Pink Gomphidius)
    Helvella lacunosa (Fluted Black Elfin Saddle)
    Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (False Chanterelle)
    Hygrophorus conicus (Witch's Hat, Hygrocybe conica)
    Inocybe sp. (Fiber Heads)
    Ishnoderma resinosum (Shelf-like Fungus, grows on hardwoods)
    Laccaria bicolor (Laccaria)
    Laccaria laccata (Common Laccaria, Lackadaisical Laccaria)
    Lactarius rubidus (Candy Cap, Lactarius fragilus)
    Leucopaxillus albissimus (White False Paxillus)
    Naematoloma fasciculare (Clustered Woodlover)
    Phellinus igniarius (Hard Wood Conk, False Tinder Polypore)
    Rhizopogon occidentalis (False Truffle, Western Rhizopogon)
    Russula albonigra (Black and White Russula)
    Russula brevipes (Short-stemmed Russula)
    Russula emetica (Emetic Russula)
    Russula densifolia (Rigid Russula)
    Russula rosacea (Rosy Russula)
    Russula xerampelina (Woodland Russula)
    Suillus caerulescens (Blue-Staining Boletus, Fat Jack)
    Suillus lakei (Lake's Boletus, Matte Jack, Western Painted Suillus)
    Suillus luteus (Slippery Jack)
    Stropharia ambigua (Questionable Stropharia)
    Tricholoma saponaceum (Soapy Tricholoma)
    Tuber gibbosum (Oregon White Truffle)
    Xylaria hypoxylon (Candlesnuff Fungus, Carbon Antlers)

    Specimens were found at Grayland beach, Capitol Forest, Priest Point Park and neighborhoods. As Tom picked up the name tags to make a specimens list, he quipped an old Russian saying, All mushrooms are edible - - some only once.

  • December News: