Leotia lubrica – Jelly babies

Jelly babies (Leotia lubrica) are gelatinous mushrooms that fruit July-October. They can be found in soil, humus, moss, or well-decayed wood throughout North America. Jelly babies are usually a yellowish-ochre color. They have irregular bumpy caps and a gooey texture. Beneath the caps, the surface is smooth. Jelly babies are ascomycetes, containing spore-bearing structures in […]

Lepista sordida – Sordid blewits

Sordid Blewits (Lepista sordida) are edible mushrooms that can be found in northern temperate zones. Sordid blewits are saprobic, feeding on decomposing organic material including leaf litter, wood chips, and compost. They fruit June-November. The mushrooms will often be found in fairy rings. They can also grow in clusters.   Sordid blewits have purplish flesh […]

Lactifluus volemus – Weeping milkcap

The Weeping Milkcap, also known as the Voluminous Latex Milky (Lactifluus volemus), is an edible milkcap that can be found June-September. Milkcaps exude a latex, milky substance when cut as a defense mechanism from predators. The Weeping milkcap can be found worldwide with slight differences. It is now considered a species complex with potentially different […]

Lactifluus corrugis – Corrugated-cap milky

The Corrugated-cap milky (Lactifluus corrugis) is an edible mushroom that is widely distributed in eastern North America. They can be found summer-fall near oak trees. Corrugated-cap milkies have a reddish cap that is covered in a felt-like layer when the mushroom is young. Older specimens have a wrinkled cap appearance. Mushrooms exude a white latex […]

Sarcomyxa serotina – Late Fall Oysters

Late Fall Oysters (Sarcomyxa serotina) are easily identified edible mushrooms that can be found October-December. Late fall oysters can be found on deciduous or conifer logs growing singly or in shelves. They have green, yellow, orange, or purple caps and yellowish gills. There is a line that separates the gills from the stubby stem. The […]

Dryad’s Saddle, a Unique and Tasty Mushroom

Dryad’s saddle (Polyporus squamosus)

Walk around your local forest and you’ll probably spot some wild mushrooms growing on tree stumps. Take a closer look at these mushrooms, you might be lucky enough to find some edible ones. Dryad’s saddle (Polyporus squamosus) or pheasant back mushroom is one of these valuable wild edibles. In the wild, you can recognize these […]

Maitake, the Wonderful King of Mushrooms

Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is a type of mushroom that’s native to China, Japan, and North America. To Westerners, maitake is often called hen of the woods and sheep’s head mushrooms. Despite being a native to North America as well, these mushrooms are more commonly found in Asian supermarkets throughout the US. The name Maitake itself […]

Hen of the Woods – Powerful Medicinal and Edible Mushroom

A dense cluster of hen of the woods surrounded by grass at the base of a tree.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in October 2018. Updated April 2022. The hen of the woods mushroom (Grifola frondosa) is one of the most, if not the most, commonly foraged mushrooms in the northeastern United States. Also often known as the maitake mushroom, hen of the woods is native to both the United […]

Simple Chicken of the Woods Recipe

Chicken of the Woods recipe

Chicken of the Woods Chicken of the woods is a great mushroom for beginners. It’s easy to identify and has no known toxic look a likes. It has a meaty but delicate flavor.  To find out more information about chicken of the woods including where to find it and how to identify it visit to our chicken […]

Turkey Tail, A Powerful Medicinal Mushroom

Trametes versicolor, Turkey Tail Mushroom

Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor) is a very common mushroom that can be found all over the world.  It is a decayer of wood and the mushrooms last a long time, often living into the winter. Turkey Tail Mushroom is an ancient indigenous medicine for different cultures around the world. It can be found growing […]

Shiitake Mushrooms, Easy To Grow In Your Own BackYard

Lentinula edodes, Shiitake Mushrooms growing on a log

Here is the easiest Shiitake Mushroom Spawn Kit I could find for sale, since it’s difficult to find Shiitake Mushrooms in the wild. Shiitake Mushroom Indoor Home Spawn Kit Shiitake Mushroom(Lentinula edodes) is a mushroom native to Japan.  It is not seen growing wild in The United States.  This is a popular mushroom in Asia […]