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Birch Boletes (2014). Photo by Steve Olson Birch Boletes in July! Steve Olson Found these little Birch Boletes in a neighbors wooded yard. I would love to pick and dry these little fellas but not sure if they've been spayed, fertilized, etc. Too bad……they look delicious! Found in San Carlos, July 20, 2014 Sadly only had my iPhone camera Camera Apple iPhone 5 Focal L. 4mm Aperture Shutter Sp. 1/100s ISO 80 Flash Off Photo taken on July 20, 2014 Mushroom(s) ... Previous Photo Back to Gallery Next Photo

News & Stories / Mycology & Art News Take a Closer Look at your Black Trumpets Phil Carpenter brought me a bag of Craterellus calicornucopioides the other day. He’s a really nice, thoughful guy, isn’t he? Deb • March 1, 2010 Craterellus calicornucopioides. © Alan Rockefeller (from mushroomobserver.org) But that’s not all. He placed a lovely little bouquet of Craterellus atrocinereus on top. They’re similar, but not identical. The C. atrocinereus have a veiny underside, like our Golden Chanterelles, whereas the C. calicornucopioides have a smoother hymenium. Check it out in these pictures and keep an eye open for them in the woods. Craterellus atrocinereus. © Debbie Viess (from mushroomobserver.org) Craterellus calicornucopioides. © Alan Rockefeller (from mushroomobserver.org) Craterellus atrocinereus. © Darvin DeShazer (from mushroomobserver.org) Craterellus calicornucopioides. © Christian Schwarz (from mushroomobserver.org) I’ve found them occasionally in the past, and they always get lost in my basket with the dominant species. My comparison: they taste basically the same, but the C. atrocinereus have a slightly softer and more luscious texture. See what you think. Bon appétit! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / What Made the 2012 Wine and Mushroom Event Extraordinary? Was it the spectacular showing of gigantic chocolate mushrooms, the surprise door prizes, the fantastic wines, delicious food or good companionship? All of that and more! Margaret Carpenter • April 1, 2012 FFSC Wine and Chocolate 2012. Photo by Mary Lindsay Pouring at the Wine and Mushroom dinner. Photo by Mary Lindsay Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards organized some exceptional Santa Cruz Mountain Appellation wineries to share their wines. We were given the opportunity to enjoy excellent wines from Ahlgren Vineyard, Muns Vineyard, River Run Winery, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard and Silver Mountain Vineyard. And Osocalis Distillery poured alambic brandy! Everything was outstanding. And we couldn’t forget the food: the table groaned with a wonderful array. There were no long lines, just people mingling around the numerous tables munching on food and sipping wine. One comment overheard from a first time attendee was, “I can’t believe that there are so many ways to fix appetizers.” Chef Bob Wynn produced several fresh-baked mushroom foccacia breads. Our new wineglass plates, courtesy of Dawn Engel, made the food and wine balancing act a snap. Our chocolatiers-extraordinaire , Fred Molnar and Debbie Johnson, demonstrated just how many mushrooms can be made from 30 pounds of chocolate (quite a few, as it turns out). The display of chocolate mushrooms they produced was amazing (see main photo). We heard people expressing disbelieve that the mushrooms were actually chocolate; they looked so real. Mushroom door prizes were awarded at the end. This was an exceptional evening of gastronomic gluttony! Chocolate truffle basket, Wine and Mushroom 2012. Photo by Mary Lindsay Many thanks are due to the volunteers that came early to help transform the Community Center into a gala party room. The facility was bright and cheery and decorated for a party. Thanks to Vernetta McGuire for spearheading the decorating of the tables, Barbara Hanson for organizing the lighting effects and Rene Barone for setting up the beverage table. Needless to say, as with most of our events, we could not have done this without our willing volunteers who help before, during and after the event. You transformed the room for a gala party event and cleaned it all up afterward. Thank you yet again! Queens of All Things Culinary Margaret Carpenter & Dawn Engel Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Another Year, Another Great Wine and Mushroom Gala! The Wine and Mushroom Experience was Phenomenal Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

2013 Speaker Schedule Our 2013 Fungus Fair was once again graced by a great lineup of speakers and fascinating talks. We hope to see you next year! You can also browse the list of speakers for the Fair, and visit their bios. Include room(s): All Room 1 Room 3 Fair days Friday Saturday Sunday Kicking and Screaming: Dragging Mycology into the 21st Century with the Help of Citizen Scientists (aka YOU) Christian Schwarz ... ... Friday, January 11, 2013 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 1 Friday Mycorrhizotopia: fungi are the puppet masters of the universe Britt Bunyard ... ... Friday, January 11, 2013 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Room 3 Friday Mushroom Toxicology (Friday) Henry Young ... ... Friday, January 11, 2013 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM Room 1 Friday Cooking Demonstration Jeff Emery Chef Bob Wynn ... Friday, January 11, 2013 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Room 3 Friday Introduction to Wild and Edible Mushrooms David Rust ... ... Friday, January 11, 2013 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Room 1 Friday Zen and the Art of Mushroom Hunting Debbie Viess ... ... Saturday, January 12, 2013 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 Saturday Medicinal Mushrooms Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac ... ... Saturday, January 12, 2013 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Room 3 Saturday Wheel of Fungi (Saturday) David Arora ... ... Saturday, January 12, 2013 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Saturday Tales from the Cryptogams - Twelve Alternative Lifestyles from the Kingdom Fungi. Beware! Sex, Death and Insanity lie ahead Christian Schwarz ... ... Saturday, January 12, 2013 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Saturday Introduction to Mushroom Identification Phil Carpenter ... ... Saturday, January 12, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1 Saturday Cooking Demonstration Chef Cal Stamenov ... ... Saturday, January 12, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 3 Saturday Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of California Debbie Viess ... ... Sunday, January 13, 2013 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Room 1 Sunday From Aflatoxins to Zombies: weird weird weird fungi Britt Bunyard ... ... Sunday, January 13, 2013 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Room 3 Sunday History of Mushroom Dyes Dorothy Beebee ... ... Sunday, January 13, 2013 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Room 1 Sunday Wheel of Fungi (Sunday) David Arora ... ... Sunday, January 13, 2013 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Room 3 Sunday Mushroom Toxicology (Sunday) Henry Young ... ... Sunday, January 13, 2013 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Room 1 Sunday Introduction to Mushroom Identification Mark Gillespie ... ... Sunday, January 13, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room 1 Sunday Cooking Demonstration with Wine Pairing Chef Maurice Dissels ... ... Executive Chef Maurice Dissels of Birks Restaurant and Assistant Winemaker, Meredith Miles of Fenestra Winery will conduct a cooking demonstration and wine… Show More Sunday, January 13, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Room 3 Sunday

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News & Stories / Albion I, 2010 – A Great Time for All The Albion I foray was a great success with everyone finding edible and non-edible mushrooms. We had a full house of fungiphiles and enjoyed forays and an incredible Saturday evening potluck. Bill White • January 1, 2011 Corals (Albion I, 2010). Photo by Stephanie Maklan The species diversity was awesome with over 100 species identified (see list below). Also check out Maria Tanase’s article regarding look-alike Matsutake and Amanita silvicola buttons. Albion I, 2010. Photo by Stephanie Maklan Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Albion II, 2011 – Great Forays, Fungi and Food Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Join local forays in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas. Learn while exploring our local woods and fields with like-minded people. During the rainy season FFSC offers guided local mushroom forays, the best way to safely learn about finding wild fungi. Basket of mixed fungi. Photo by Dan Tischler We concentrate on finding, enjoying and learning a bit about some of our local mushrooms. We meet at a forested area in Santa Cruz County or the Monterey Bay area, talk about the types of mushrooms that can grow in the area's habitat, and then begin to hunt. Depending on the location chosen and the type of permit available, there may be some collection allowed; otherwise the goal will be education. If collection is allowed, we may hunt as a group and/or split up for a couple hours and then meet back together to show each other our fungal finds. The foray leader(s) will do our best to help you identify what you found, answer questions, and share knowledge. Always a fun family activity! The exact location is sent out to registered participants a couple of days before the foray. Please do not share the location with others. Occasionally some local forays may also include tailgate cooking (bring your own food and beverages) and tasting of any edibles collected. This will be announced in the foray's description. What to wear Layered warm clothing, sturdy footwear for hiking, and Tecnu if you get poison oak! Gloves for moving branches aside may also be useful. Activity level Some locations are relatively flat; others may involve steeper mountain roads or trails. When we collect as a group, we usually move fairly slowly while looking for and discussing mushrooms. If we split up, you can hike at your own pace. What to bring Basket or bucket to hold mushrooms, a knife and perhaps a small trowel. Waxed paper or brown paper bags to hold mushrooms (plastic bags are not recommended). A field guide if you have one (David Arora's All That The Rain Promises and More is a good choice for our area). Bring your own water or beverage to stay hydrated. Snacks are optional. What to read Before joining any foray, we ask that you read and follow FFSC's mushroom collection ethics and etiquette guidelines , to ensure that we continue to be welcome at foray locations. Beginners are welcome You don't need prior experience. That said, if you've never taken a mushroom ID class , we also encourage you to read FFSC's Learn about Wild Mushroom ID pages. Log. Photo by Dan Tischler Local Forays Join local forays in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas. Learn while exploring our local woods and fields with like-minded people. Past Local Forays December 6, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM December Local Foray November 1, 2025, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Local Fungus Foray-Nov 1, 2025 December 7, 2024, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Local Foray, December 2024 March 3, 2024, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Local Foray, March 2024 December 2, 2023, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Local Foray, December 2023 November 19, 2022, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Local Foray - Habitat Walk, November 2022 Load More 3 days to the event Saturday Habitat Hike Oct 24, 2026, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, 800 Quail Hollow Rd, Felton, CA 95018, USA Hello fellow Fungiphiles, foraging season is about to begin and I’d love for you to join us for a Habitat Hike! Buy Tickets Scheduled Local Forays

Become a Fair Volunteer We need volunteers to set up and run the 2026 Fungus Fair. Honestly, we can't do it without you! What Do Volunteers Do? Ready to sign up? Here's how . During the Fair (Jan 9-11) Help with ticket sales and voucher redemption Check hand stamps Set up and/or take down tables and chairs for the After Hours Dinner Help at the FFSC membership table The central island ready to receive the fungi from volunteers. Photo by Katherine Elvin Before the Fair Collect wild mushrooms for the exhibits (January 6-7) Help arrange the mushroom exhibits (January 7-9) Load and unload tables, chairs, equipment, etc. for the Fungi Forest, talks, and craft areas (January 6-9) Help to plan the Fair (June - December) At the End of (and After) the Fair Take down all the exhibits (January 11) Fold and store all the tables and chairs (January 11) Celebrate a job well done at the Volunteer Dinner! (TBA) Ready to sign up? How to Become a Fair Volunteer 301 Center St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA Anyone can help! You do not need to be a member of FFSC to volunteer. To be eligible for a FREE General Admission ticket to the Fungus Fair, you must pre-register as a volunteer, and work for at least one volunteer position (usually for a few hours, depending on the role). If there is an area or task you particularly enjoy, it's a good idea to sign up early to nail it down now. To volunteer during the Fair (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), please visit: https://ffsc.ivolunteer.com/fungusfair_2026 To volunteer for set up before the Fair, or take down at the end of the Fair, please visit: https://ffsc.ivolunteer.com/setup_2026

Porcini Soup Robin Morris shared this wonderful Porcini soup recipe. Enjoy! by Robin Morris Boletus edulis. Photo by Hugh Smith Method Heat chicken broth with carrots. Sauté shallot, onion, and parsley in butter 7 minutes. Cover for 3 additional minutes. Combine broth with mushrooms and all else, including cream and celery, reduce 25 mins. Serve with toasted bread and butter or cheese Recipe contributed: October 2014 When cooking with fresh-picked porcini, I like to peel the cap and cut off the tough outside of the stipe. I include tubes only if fresh and not buggy... Objective: Soup Total Time: 30-45 mins Yield: Suggested Mushrooms: Porcini (Boletus edulis, Boletus regineus, Boletus rex-veris) Join FFSC or renew your membership to access the rest of this content. Join FFSC Login as an FFSC member to access the rest of this content. Login Ingredients 1 ½ – 2 lbs Porcini, cut in 1/2 in. chunks, dry sautéed till light brown 2 c cream 2 c chicken broth (low sodium style) 2 stalks celery, de-veined and cut small 2 thin carrots, cut small 1 shallot 1/2 red onion, chopped 3 Tbl Plugra or other good butter 1/2 tsp thyme I Tbl parsley Previous Recipe All Recipes Next Recipe

News & Stories / Stewardship CEOs Epistle to the Fungophiles: April 2000 What a party!! Last night was the annual Wme & Mushroom Fest and it was, by overwhelming consensus, the best ever. Deb • April 1, 2000 Turbinellus floccosus. © aguadinero (CC-BY-NC) (inaturalist.org, obs. 253312082) Well over a hundred FFSC members and their lucky guests brought a great array of delicacies, complemented by wine from Bonny Doon, Ahlgren, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards, Zayante Vineyards, Osocalis, River Run and David Bruce. We were serenaded with recorder music by Ensemble Virelai. Table arrangements and twinkling lights set the mood beautifully. It seems like every year this "do" is a little bit bigger and a little bit better, but this year was a quantum leap! Big thanks and congratulations for a job well done are in order for Culinary Minister Rene Seltzer and the Culinary Committee and Jeff Emery, de facto Minister of Libations. Stop everything right now, get out that exquisite FFSC wineglass you brought home, and raise a glass for them again (on-duty air traffic controllers excepted!) Local forays are still on the agenda - check the Hotline for Ken Sommers' scheduled dates. Bob Sellers is planning further forays for the Jasper Ridge Study. You can call him for details. As the rains taper off locally, we shift our focus to long distance forays. You'll fmd details inside about the Spring Foray on May 5-7, as well as the Lake Tahoe Foray on September 15-17 and the Echo Summit Foray on September 29 - October 1. Clear your calendar and come along! See you at the Continental Foray and Picnic on Sunday, April 16th. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Adam Ryszka You can't find them all, but I am sure going to try! FFSC Title: Minister Emeritus Joined FFSC: Late 2006 Adam has been very active with the FFSC from the day he joined and within a year was nominated and elected Minister of Local Forays. He brings to the club a first-hand knowledge of the north-western woods of Santa Cruz county, having wandered through them for many years. Ever present at local events, especially the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair, he has become a familiar face to many. Active in outreach for the FFSC, he has volunteered his time for mushroom related events with UCSC, the YMCA, local Scout troops and the Monterey Natural History Museum. Currently he is working with local researchers and citizen scientists on field studies and transforming that data into modern media (web, video, digital publication). And of course he is also engaged on that never-ending search for deeper woods and greener meadows... Adam Ryszka Upcoming Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets Past Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks

News & Stories / Writings Boletus edulis: A Family Tradition It's five in the morning and dawn has barely broken. Half asleep, I stumble through the woods, hoping a gorgeous King (bolete) will find me. Karin Leonard • September 1, 2000 Boletus edulis var. grandedulis. © isayhellahella (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 67584600) My companions in crime: mom, dad and brother, in feverish pursuit of Germany's prime edibles, hoping to hunt down the "Steinpilz" ( Boletus edulis ), before the fungi-starved Bavarian hordes claim the prize. (Maybe you thought Santa Cruz was too picked over by your fellow hunters? Ha!) My family clan, often joined by my grandmother and aunts, is so fervently focused on the hunt that we lose track of time and space, and most often get perfectly lost in the woods. I remember many an outing of wandering around for a few hours, hungry and cranky, trying to fmd our way back ... but we always did ... Thirty years later, the Fungi flame still burns brightly in me. The fire quietly glimmers during the summer months, but once those first rains hit ... watch out! It's Santa Cruz time; I'm on my hands and knees fine-combing my spot for emerging porcines. High from the fever of the hunt, I nonetheless hope no one I know comes by. It's difficult to explain this strange behavior to a non-fungiphile. And, I certainly don't want anyone to discover my spot! When I'm out there in the woods, it's timeless. I might as well be one of my Viking ancestors, thousands of years ago, forging for family food, senses sharp like a wild cat, and trained intuition alert. I feel those ancient memories stirring somewhere in my genes, when I spot a tiny speck of rusty red raising its earthy head in the duff: a surge of adrenaline, ready to claim my treasure! I love many a mushroom, but nothing compares to uncovering a perfectly formed king bolete from the depths of the duff. The sheer delight of getting there before all that would love to devour this beauty - fellow hunters, deer and maggots ... As I clean off the hardy stem, I hear the echo of my dad's knife, proudly carving duff off his prized find, so many years ago. Sadly, he suffered a stroke in February of '99, and wasn't able to join in the Boletus hunt last year. Luckily for him, Bavaria didn't have a great porcini harvest this time round. The mushrooms, he says, are waiting for him "to come back next year." And I know his Steinpilz passion has helped him get better, already anticipating this season's hunt. He may not yet be able to forage on his own, but I will pay a visit this fall, and hunt in his stead — carrying on the family tradition. Let's hope I hit the jackpot, and won't get too lost ... Here's to a great bolete season for all! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article