Avid wild mushroom hunters search long and hard through dense forests and state parks for edible and unique fungi, and I'm proud to call myself one of these hunters. During my long journey I've identified countless different species of mushrooms, with each one being unusual in one way or another. However when I stumbled into an old graveyard in Ohio, I realized that it was a paradise of sorts for fungi growth. This was breaking news to me, but when I began to research the topic further, I realized that mushrooms growing in cemeteries was hardly breaking news— but instead more of a phenomenon. So naturally, out of curiosity, I began to instead research what was causing this phenomenon known as "graveyard mushrooms"— and the results of this study are stunning! This book is illustrated with premium color images.

Mystical Mushrooms defines the beauty of mushrooms by focusing on their magical connections and symbolic meanings through folkloric tales and superstitions throughout the world. Go for a walk in the woods on any given summer day and you may find yourself surrounded in fungi galore as they lay nestled among the ferns and trees. After a rainstorm, peek out in your backyard and you may see tiny spores sprouting from the grass, forming what is known as a fairy ring. Mushrooms grow in all shapes, sizes, and colors and—depending on where you live—you might find some that are conducive to magic practice. Mystical Mushrooms enters this realm, exploring the magical properties, mythological connections, and symbolic qualities of the fungi that so intrigue us. Author Mandie Quark takes you on a journey through the mystical universe of mushrooms. From Buddhist traditions to the concept of fairy rings, Quark reveals how mushrooms have long been entwined with the supernatural in art, literature, and religion. This includes topics surrounding: Magical History Spells Symbolism Spirituality Coupled with stunningly depicted artwork, Mystical Mushrooms explores the qualities of over 75 species of mushroom, displaying a range of compelling subjects surrounding the true power of these fabulous fungi.

“A merry, idiosyncratic guide, charmingly illustrated.”—Eugenia Bone, The Wall Street Journal An illustrated guide to over 100 types of mushrooms, offering insights and stories about these mysterious organisms An incredible diversity of fungi is flourishing all around us, not just in the forest but in parks, markets, and even museums. Once you know how to look, you can find mushrooms named after fairies and demons, mushrooms that look so much like woodland birds they are shot at by hunters, mushrooms that glow in the dark . . . and so much more. Beyond serving as a guide for identification, Mushrooming explores how “the quiet hunt” can radically expand our perspectives, connect us to nature, and enrich our lives. Whether you’re a beginner forager or an expert mycophile, this is the perfect handbook to spark your curiosity and deepen your appreciation for the fantastic, delicious, deadly, and strange world of fungi.

Kathryn, a member of the greatest generation, once an assistant buyer for a major department store, an assistant fire chiefs wife, mother to a son and a daughter, a grandmother to four boys, a life long friend to many friends who knew her as Kay or Dolly is in her late seventies when, little by little, she finds her mind changing through a series of strokes beginning Christmas, 1986. Kathryn loses her ability to walk and speak all in that one December. Her daughter, an artist, who once worked in reading and dance therapy with brain damaged children, begins to see into her mothers darkness and finds an imaginary world of her mothers creation where both mother and daughter can find their way back to the Light and each other. As medicines change and therapies continue, Kathryn finds her brain healing through the things that have been consistent throughout her life, her love of God, people, and animals and a delightful humor to find out what in the world they all are thinking!

Mushrooms, the first of a major new series of books on British natural history, provides a remarkable insight into the natural and human world of fungi. Peter Marren, in his inimitable, relaxed style, guides the reader through the extraordinary riches of this often overlooked group, from the amazing diversity of forms and lifestyles that populate the fungal landscape, to the pursuit of edible fungi for the pot, and the complexities of identification thrown up by our modern understanding of DNA. Throughout the book, the author tells a story rich in detail about how we have come to appreciate and, in some cases, fear the mushrooms and toadstools that are such an integral part of the changing seasons. Marren also provides a refreshingly candid view of our attempts to name species, the role of fungi in ecosystems, and our recent efforts to record and conserve them.

Children’s book, How the mushroom queen Mara protected the forest from the attack of the sorcerer Robin, who turns plants into stone. Initially, in a magical forest far away, there lived a witch girl named Mara. She was the queen of mushrooms and protector of all living things in the forest. One day, an evil sorcerer named Lesley appeared, and he had the power to turn plants into stone. He wanted to take over the forest and make it his own.

Contents: Introduction, The Fruit Body, The Study of Fungi, Reproduction of Fungi, Basic Mycological Terms, The Classification of Fungi, Edible Mushroom, The Morphology of Edible Mushrooms, Collection and Identification of Fungi, The Morphology of Inedible Fungi, Poisonous and Deadly Poisonous Fungi, The Morphology of Poisonous Fungi, Characteristic Features of Fungi, The Importance of Fungi for Human being.

In the first of the River Cottage Handbook series, mycologist John Wright uncovers the secret habits and habitats of Britain's thriving mushrooms - and the team at River Cottage explain how to cook them to perfection. In the first of the River Cottage Handbook series, mycologist John Wright explains the ins and outs of collecting, including relevant UK laws, conservation notes, practical tips and identification techniques. He takes us through the 72 species we are most likely to come across during forays in Britain's forests and clearings: old friends the Chanterelle and Cep, as well as a whole colourful host of more unfamiliar names - edible species including the Velvet Shank, the Horn of Plenty, the Amethyst Deceiver, the Giant Puffball and the Chicken in the Woods, and poisonous types such as the Sickener, the Death Cap and the Destroying Angel. The handbook is completed by more than 30 simple and delicious mushroom recipes from the River Cottage team. With colour photographs throughout, line drawings, a user-friendly Key and an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the River Cottage Mushroom Handbook is a comprehensive and collectable guide, destined to be an indispensable household reference.

For a generation, the Basic Illustrated series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether you’re planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, Basic Illustrated books tell you what you need to know. Learn how to: Forage for and identify wild mushrooms Treat a variety of ailments and illnesses, from colds to heart disease and more Distinguish between edible and nonedible parts of mushrooms Make delicious dinners, snacks, and other healthy recipes