Tag Archives: Amanita muscaria

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Fly Amanitas, Amanita muscaria, have been popping up on the Mendonoma Coast. We are taking a break from the rains with sunny, very mild weather. These red-capped mushrooms with the white spots seem pretty darn happy. Kurt Fuchs photographed one recently.

As did Cece Case.

And Wayne Smith.

Dan Lewis also joined in the fun.

These mushrooms can be eaten, I'm told by David Arora, if you parboil them twice, throwing out the water between boils. Personally, I'd rather watch them in the forest and in meadows. They are fascinating as they evolve. I had a group growing under a huckleberry bush, but they all got eaten one night! Mushrooms feed a lot of critters.

Thanks to all above who allowed me to share their photos with  you here.

To all who celebrate the holiday today,  Happy Thanksgiving!

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To see these cheery mushrooms poking up after our autumn rains always makes me smile. We have a spot on our property where they appear in great numbers. Here is how Fly Amanitas, Amanita muscaria, look with they first appear.

Then they open up and reveal their true selves.

Here is one with a "baby" underneath.

Our golden retriever, Sunny, does his best not to step on them as he heads down into the forest.

These mushrooms have hallucinogenic qualities. It's possible to parboil the toxins out, I've been told by mushroom expert David Arora. I prefer just to watch them evolve. They make me happy to look at them!

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Fly Amanitas, Amanita muscaria, have been known as symbols of good luck. Craig Tooley recently photographed one of these distinctive mushrooms.

Judy Woudenberg also captured a photo of one. They change size rather dramatically as they age. Judy's is younger than Craig's.

Not edible unless parboiled several times to flush away the toxins. I just enjoy seeing them in sunny meadows, flaunting their bold beauty as I walk by.

Thanks to Craig and Judy for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

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Young Hannah Bonfils was hiking a trail at The Sea Ranch with her parents. She photographed several wild mushrooms. The first is the distinctive Fly Amanita, Amanita muscaria.

And the second photo, I believe, shows young Turkey Tails.

Here's what Hannah wrote: “I’m thirteen years old. My family and I were walking through a trail in Sea Ranch and noticed some magnificent-looking mushrooms. I took some great pictures of them.  After seeing these pictures, I think many people will be interested in looking at the mushrooms in their area.”

Thanks to Hannah for allowing me to share her photos with you here. She shows a lot of talent with a camera and I hope she will share more of her nature photos with us.

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The beautiful red-topped mushroom with the white spots, Fly Amanita, has begun to fruit on the Mendonoma Coast. Bob Schwein recently photographed a newly sprouted one being sampled by a Banana Slug.

Thanks to Bob for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

To see a beautiful holiday wreath made out of mature Fly Amanitas, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/12/20/a-beautiful-fly-amanita-wreath-created-by-carol-kozal/