This coming weekend might be a good time to join the lurkers in the woods. The mycologists are a-foot, stooping to look under fallen trees, brushing aside damp rotting leaves, all in search of their prize: mushrooms.
Foraging for mushrooms, and other wild edibles such as ramps, can be a consuming hobby. Disregarding wet weather, soggy shoes, mud slides, private property signs, and little or no yield is part of the crazy-fun that draws hundreds of people into the woods.
The Minnesota Mycological Society is actually the second oldest in the nation, founded by Dr. Mary Whetstone in 1898. A newbie might be interested in their class on May 22 where they’ll discuss local findings and identification techniques. They also hold guided forays into parks and woods that have been known to produce a strong growth of mushrooms.
The renegade hunter may want to do a little research before heading out. Morels are the mushrooms of early spring, and they are well-sought by professional mycophagists (mushroom eating seekers). Dead elms have always been a marker for morels, but hunters have reported great finds among white ash trees as well. Looking among rotting leaves, small leafy plants, and vines with thorns have produced luck for some.
The small town of Elba has been a central point for hunters, in past years even hosting a morel festival (can’t seem to find anything about this year…). The Whitewater State Park is located just south of town and boasts a lot of great hunting acreage. For the price of a parking permit, you can march into the woods and collect as many mushrooms as you can carry. A park ranger told me today that morels are indeed poking up all over the place.
If you prefer to discover your mushrooms in a tasty risotto, you should make reservations with the Bayport Cookery for their famous Morel Fest dinner which runs through July 2nd.
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