ZionShrooms

A few years ago, I moved away from the dry hot region of Northern California to the lush green low country of South Carolina. The perennial green state and vibrant blue skies instantly won my heart. Last summer was my first year at my new home. The warm rainstorms were a welcome surprise. With them came the discovery of an ancient ecosystem growing around me. Orange blossom like fungi bloomed with every new rain. They were magnificent. I studied them, painted them, ate them, pickled them and dried them. Eventually, I decided to take my new interest further and became a certified mushroom forager. I am so glad I learned more about these amazing life forms. The rainy season is back and with it, my orange Chanterelles have followed. Even as I write this another thunder storm is saturating the ground, which will coax more mushrooms up from the ground. These beautiful mushrooms are gifts found under my old growth oak trees in my yard in the low country of South Carolina. It takes at least 80 years for nature to develop the intricate mycorrhizal network between host tree and fungi. These beauties have been growing here much longer than I have been around. I also have Golden Milkies, Turkeytail, Reishi, Shrimp Rusulla, and several others growing around me.