Florence Preserve Foray
July 23, 2011
Sue Brown/Ed Mayer: Foray Leaders

This is a new foray site for the club and proved to be a productive location where nearly 70 species were identified and most of the 21 participants went home with smiling faces and edible mushrooms. Three staff members of the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) joined the 18 club members.

The trails selected for the foray were the Blue, Red and White trails located at the upper end of the preserve which is accessed through a gated locked road. These trails were selected because the terrain was gentle, with more open areas to foray than the steep lower portions of the preserve. The weather cooperated by providing rain a few days
before the foray which enabled the group to collect a wide range of interesting specimens. Temperatures at the higher elevation were comfortable in spite of the hot weather.

Two groups headed out from different locations on the access road. Sue led one group down the white trail to its junction with the red and yellow trails. Jackie accompanied two of the CMLC staff and introduced them to the art of the foray and the diversity of mushrooms on the preserve. Ed led the other group down the blue trail to its junction with the red trail at a small meadow. A group of new club members followed Charlotte, eager to gain mushroom wisdom from her years of experience.

The group convened for a picnic lunch at a private pavilion in “downtown” Gerton, following the 2.5 hour foray. Tables were set up for identification of the day’s finds. Foray participants went home with a selection of chanterelles, black trumpets, oysters, milk caps, and old man of the woods. Everyone agreed that this was a great foray location that should be re-visited in future years. Due to the parking limitations and size of the foray area, the maximum number of participants will need to be kept around 20.

Species found: