Purple mushrooms are hard to find. The ones in these photos are Cortinarius violaceus (L.) Gray or Violet Webcap. Most fungi are shades of brown, orange, white, or red. I didn’t find these in Northern Virginia. They reside along the Piney Branch Trail in Shenandoah National Park. I am sure that this hardwood forest is […]
If you read my blog at all, you can tell I love trees. Big trees or small trees, they are such amazing feats of nature. I think it is amazing to a walk past a tree that could be 200 plus years old. There are actually data bases and organizations that certify, record, and list […]
Chimney Top is a barely hidden gem in the Spruce Knob – Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. From Northern Virginia it is about 2.5 hours to the trailhead. It is a pretty amazing spot that is definitely worth the effort. Read on to find out more. Chimney Top is a spur trail off the north […]
Ever go hiking in West Virginia? The North Fork Mountain Trail is an excellent choice. If you are coming from Northern Virginia. It’s about a 3 hour drive. For me, that is my limit for day hikes. However, it’s easy to do an overnight stay. There are lots of hiking, backpacking, and camping options in […]
Hiking Menace? Spider webs are all over forests. Ever walk along a hiking trail and hit one? Once across your face, arms, or body, they are sometimes hard to remove. If I am running into a lot of them, sometimes I’ll carry a spider stick. The spider stick catches the spider webs, so they aren’t […]
No blog on trees and forests would be complete without a post on Chicken of the Woods. These are brilliant orange colored fungi that appear in spring and fall. This post is specifically about the species Laetiporus cincinnatus. Technical Species Information – Laetiporus cincinnatus Laetiporus is a genus of soft-fleshed polypores. You are probably thinking, […]