I am beginning to learn about wild mushrooms and was able to take a number of pictures while on my first foray with a friend. I have tried to identify some from my books and with the help of my mentor. Still, please do not use these pictures as as a determining factor on whether you eat a mushroom or not. Some mushrooms can make you dead, while others will make you wish you were dead. Find an expert. My mentor also suggested “keeping a sample of the mushrooms you eat for the morgue”. It’s a big deal if you don’t know what you are doing (like me).
Anyhow, I sort of like these pictures and will try to represent them as best I can. Hover your mouse pointer over each picture for my thoughts on the mushroom’s identification. In all my walking in the woods, I never knew there were so many beautiful and interesting mushrooms all around!
Have you ever found any morels?
I found a large blue mushroom once on a hiking trail in Auburn, Al. I have never found another and can not find out the name. Ever seen one?
Jane – some mushrooms turn blue when they are bruised or as they decay…maybe that was the deal? I am not sure otherwise but mushrooms do come in many shapes and colors…