SalemScott

It's turtles all the way down. Cool find. https://www.quora.com/Phrase-Origins-What-do-people-mean-when-they-say-its-turtles-all-the-way-down

Here is a link that may help in determining which type of ganoderma you have. http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/reishi-mushroom-identification.html

That was my first thought when I saw it but wait for one of the experienced members to give their thoughts.

Thanks Dave, the small black mushrooms were growing on the side of a downed tree, oak most likely. While we have a good variety of trees here, the vast majority are oak. In fact I'm not sure I've found ANY mushrooms growing directly on pine yet. I've found a few growing under pine, including the sullius' from a couple weeks ago and this mostly eaten mushroom, which I assume a squirrel beat me to, which I'm assuming is some type of russula due to its stem being so crumbly.

Next time I find them I'll bring one home to get a print. I hear the word 'DEADLY' galerina and have an automatic response to not want it in my possession or in my house. Glad you enjoyed the pics, cameras on smart phones have come a long ways.

Got out both days this weekend and had some success. Got a few more late fall oysters (Panellus Serotinus) on Saturday and also pulled a first for me, regular oysters (Pleurotus ostreatus) I believe. I first noticed them from probably 100 yards away, 20' up in a tree. Once I got to the tree there were more at the base. I was shocked just how big they were, some I'd guess in the 10"+ range. I also now understand where they get the oyster reference in their name, they totally smell like shellfish/salt water. I came across a small variety of other mushrooms, though not the numbers I was expecting to find after this past weeks rains. Pic 7 shows something that was coming out of the crack on an oak tree that had the consistency of styrofoam. If I hadn't seen it coming out of a tree I would assume it's not a natural substance. Very odd. Photo 8 shows tiny (1/4") mushrooms with the consistency of a gummy bear. Very squishy yet very tough, almost impossible to tear in half. They were brown inside. Overall it was a success. BTW, when I got the oysters home I found some had worms. I carefully when through them, tossing the older wormy ones. For ease of discussion I've numbered each photo. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Found this group of mushrooms on a fallen log, oak I believe. Didn't bring one home to get a print though. Hollow stem, brown gills (older mushrooms I believe) though I don't see any signs of a ring. What's your thoughts? Thanks.

Thanks everybody for posting your pics, they motivate me to get out there searching for that next find. Dave, when you cook the Cyanoboletus pulverulentus, does it turn everything you cook it with blue? I have a pic of a blue staining bolete I found this spring (I believe) that stained blue that I never posted. I'll try to get them posted on this thread this evening. Thanks again.

Funny, I was just reading up on matsutake last night. So they are found here on the east coast too? I generally spend most of my time in the hardwoods but will have to try stumbling though a coniferous woods for a change soon. Thanks for sharing.

I guess I can put that theory to bed. It was just a passing thought I have when I see them and it's surprising how often I find half eaten mushrooms just sitting on top of logs. On a side note, it's currently raining and will be off and on until Thursday. Looks like this coming weekend has potential. Good luck out there.

I've often wondered this myself, I sometimes find mushrooms sitting on top of logs half eaten and thought, I wonder if this is a sign that this is an edible mushroom? Cool picture, thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the lightening quick reply....under 10 minutes flat!

Wow, that first mushroom is very cool looking, I've never seen anything quite like it. Looking into it more, I like it's alternative name, "Abortiporus distortus," Thanks for sharing. http://www.mushroomexpert.com/abortiporus_biennis.html

Got out for a couple hours yesterday;. It's been dry here the past week so mushrooms seemed a bit less plentiful. Came across this on a downed tree, most likely oak I believe. I pulled the same type of mushroom last fall off this same tree. I tried getting a spore print but it must have already dropped all it's spores (24+ hours under glass.) This look like an oyster to you guys too?

Thanks for the input guys, I came across a pretty good sized patch of these, on a hillside of white pine. Many were bug eaten, old and beat up looking but I kept a few to try out if they checked out. I spent a while last night peeling the caps and scraping the pores off, which is a bit of a chore and will make me think twice about picking them again, lol. The process of scraping the pores off oftentimes led to the edge of the mushroom breaking off, especially on the younger ones so they are no longer the attractive mushrooms they once were. Hopefully after work today I'll have the motivation to do a writeup with pics of my Sunday hunt, lots of different mushrooms seen on Sunday, what a difference a week or two can make!

Found quite a few of these today in a mixed forest of hardwoods (mostly oak) and pines, the pines mostly what these were under. Very sticky cap somewhat darker brown on the smaller caps and changing to light tan on the larger caps. Looking at the possibilities I was thinking Suillus granulatus? Any thoughts? Any other information I can provide that would help narrow it down? Thanks.

Thanks Dave, In all my years of hiking the local woods I've never seen one of these soccer ball sized puffballs that I see others post. We may only have the small ones in my area, not sure. it's looking like a nice week ahead for us here on the coast of Massachusetts with possible record setting highs on Thursday so hopefully the mushrooms will respond in kind. Here in MA there is no hunting allowed on Sunday's so I'll take advantage and hit my favorite woods and most likely have the place to myself today. Enjoy.

Thanks everybody for the replies. So I sliced off a piece of this and left the rest there. I just took the chunk, sliced it into 1/4" pieces and cooked it in some olive oil, butter, garlic, salt and pepper. It was tasty with a much different texture, much softer than my previous chicken experience. I think next time I will slice it a bit thinner and try to make it a bit crispier. Good stuff.

With another week of work on the books, it's finally my time. Off to the woods I went, a woods I've hiked before with many huge old oaks and no lack of hills. I was thinking I'd run into some hens or chickens and who knows what else. Sadly a hen wasn't to be found but I did find one young chicken, which I brought home a chunk of to give a try once I had confirmation. I found some type of puff ball I believe, white flesh inside and smooth tan skin on outside. Quite small, maybe 1 1/2". Any thoughts? Also found what I believe is a white cheese polypore (Tyromyces chioneus) and was fortunate enough to run into a couple small patches of honeys, who's characteristics I'm becoming more comfortable with identifying. It wasn't quite the prolific Saturday I had last week but an enjoyable one none the less.

Thanks, I was hoping they might be young chickens that just hadn't 'branched' out yet. I'll figure out something to do with them.

Came across these mushrooms today on a dead/burnt oak stump. From a distance I immediately assumed chickens (Laetiporus sulphureus) but once closer they look different from the chickens I found last week. They are more lumpy than traditional mushroom shapes. Are these young chickens or old? They are quite fleshy and don't seem to have the 'grain' that my previous finds had, like that of chicken breast. Thanks for any help. If they are chicken and good for eating, how best to prepare them?

Not sure what they are but a perfect mushroom to post today. Happy Halloween from the witch city, Salem, Ma.

Cool little mushroom. That rain really came down at times, I'm hoping this weekend is a good one. Good luck out there.

I don't see a YouTube link thingy but here is at least a clickable link of what I believe you were trying to post. Thanks for sharing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXXyXaxP72Y

Wow, very cool. Thanks for sharing.