Mushroom season is about to “fall” upon us!  Are you ready?  The higher elevations in the Cascades start to produce first, as both local thundershowers and cool evenings with dew start to bring the mushrooms out.  We (Peg and Bruce) went to a couple of locations on September 14 at about 5000 foot elevation up Highway 58, and although conditions still were a bit dry, a few early chanterelles were starting to appear! We also found an interesting assortment of attractive but inedible mushrooms, including a rainbow of russulas decorating the forest floor in shades of white, tan, green, pink, and purple. With a few more cooler nights, and better yet, a little rain, things should start popping by the end of September and early October.  Then the porcini (Boletus edulis) and at least 3 different kinds of chanterelles should be ready.  The overall diversity of fungi that appear with the onset of fall rains is astonishing, and the Oakridge area should again be in the heart of the action!

contributed by Bruce Newhouse, 9-19-11