Where I Find Mushrooms

Closely-Guarded Secrets

Talk with friends about their favorite spots to find chanterelles and you might be surprised to find how secretive they are. It’s a part of our culture.

Where do mushrooms grow?

I read recently a line that sums it all up quite well. Mushrooms grow where you find them. I’ve found this to be more insightful that at first glance.

There are a number of factors that come into play for mycelia to initiate mushroom formation. Rain, humidity, temperature, soil ph, interactions with trees/plants/microbes and season can all affect when and where mushrooms fruit. Revisiting a place known to produce a certain mushroom is far easier than finding a new spot.

For me, I rarely go back to my old spots. In the Spring, I might be hunting morels in burn areas from the previous year’s forest fires. For the rest of the year, I am mostly hunting mushrooms while hiking and even when I discover an amazing spot, I probably won’t return for years.

I don’t need to be secretive so I post nearly everything I find online.

Why I Use iNaturalist

I am a huge fan of this site and mobile app. Over the past few years I have logged around 500 mushroom observations including detailed locations. Why? I think it’s good for the community. It helps us all to learn about different species, when and where they fruit, what other species they are associated with, and what changes from year to year.

In the coming week I will share an overview with some of my favorite features in iNaturalist. You might also be interested in another website called Mushroom Observer. Both sites are valuable research tools for all levels.

Let’s work together to build our understanding of the mushroom world.