FFSC News & Stories

After scant fall rains, about 30 inquisitive fungiphiles met on a Saturday morning to see what might be popping up in our local fields and forests. 

My hometown, Chongqing, China—nicknamed the “Mountain City” and “Fog City” and home to 30 million people—is famous for its spicy cuisine, ancient rock carvings, and breathtaking landscapes featured in Transformers. Little is known, however, about its mushrooms.

Time lapse of chicken-of-the-woods growing over 11 days.

I was fortunate to be able to attend the annual North American Mycological Association (NAMA) foray that was held at a beautiful YMCA camp just outside of Granby, Colorado from August 12th through the 15th. This camp is located in the traditional summer residential valley of several native American tribes, the Utes, Arapahoe, and Cheyenne among others.

I was in full mushroom frenzy. Those of you who have seen me hunting know what that means.  Porcini, hawkwings, chanterelles, milk caps and many assorted other fungi.

We didn't have much rain, but we found many smaller mushrooms.