Mycelium Madness
As the weather becomes cooler combined with frequent rains, it’s exciting to get outside and notice all the different mushroom species that are now flourishing! I saw several different species ranging from coral mushrooms to turkey tails to Indian pipes (which are actually a parasitic organism of fungus).
As I hiked down trails in the damp woods, I was excited by the explosion of mycelial growth. There were mushrooms everywhere! Nature never ceases to amaze me.
Mushrooms are amazing organisms. In fact, fine networks of mycelium grow on the ground waiting for the right conditions to fruit and become what we know as mushrooms. These mycelium help digest and recycle large organic material, producing accessible nutrients for other organisms. Mushrooms have even been used as a remediation organism to clean up heavy metal and chemical toxicity in soil, truly acting as Nature's recyclers and detoxifiers.
For more fascinating information on mushrooms, I recommend the book "Mycelium Running-How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World" by Paul Stamets. For identifying mushrooms, check out field guides by the National Audubon Society and Peterson's.
