There are no true secrets, of course, when it comes to mushrooming, but what comes closest is known to most experienced mushroomers: Timely Rains.
Frequent and plentiful moisture throughout the season is very important, of course, but perhaps most important is a decent rain in July or August. When we get that, a good season is all but assured. And this year, we’ve got it!
The beautiful coastal vetch
is the last of summer's wildflowers.
As I write these notes on the evening of August 20th, we have had intermittent showers and wind out of the south yesterday, consistent rains overnight and throughout the day today. There was over 2-1/4" of rain in our gauge at 7:30 this morning for the previous 24 hours, and there is another inch or so from today. That's quite a rain for August! The weather is now predicted to moderate, with nice weather returning two days from now, and settling in for a while. This system has impacted the west side of the Cascades throughout the Pacific Northwest, and nothing could be more ideal for wild mushrooming. Presto! Change-o! As if by magic, the mycelia that lie in dormant wait, unseen below the surface of the soil through the long, dry summer, awaken with the realization that fruiting season is nearly at hand, and they’d best get with it!
We don’t often make predictions here, but we’ll go out on a limb and forecast a fine mushroom season this fall. Remember, folks, you read it here first.
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