The Joy and Benefits of Summer Mushrooms
A strong summer rain can feel like magic—reviving the forest with color, scent, and life. If you’re lucky, you might spot a fleeting rainbow, or better yet, the vibrant emergence of mushrooms thriving in the moist earth. From yellow Tremella (Witch’s Butter) to the bright reds of Boletes, orange Mycena, golden Chanterelles, blue Indigo Milk Caps, and the ghostly white Destroying Angel—this post-rain rainbow of fungi is a fleeting feast for the eyes.
Fungi aren’t just beautiful—they're essential. In forests, they break down organic material and pass nutrients between plants. In our bodies, edible mushrooms provide fiber, vitamins, beta-glucans, antioxidants, and more. They’ve been linked to benefits ranging from immune support and neurogenesis to anti-tumor and cardiovascular health. Mushrooms are a delicious, accessible superfood—whether in teas, tinctures, powders, or grilled on a skewer.
Our country faces a fiber crisis, driven by diets high in meat and sugar. Mushrooms, especially edible varieties like shiitake, oyster, and Lion’s Mane, can help reverse that trend. They’re easy to find at markets, grocers, and even in ready-made mushroom drinks popping up next to kombucha. Some mushrooms, like Reishi or Turkey Tail, are too tough to eat but powerful when extracted.
And here's a caution: mushrooms are environmental sponges. Always source from clean, trusted growers. Avoid those grown in contaminated environments—especially imports from places like China, where even local mycologists steer clear. But this same absorbent trait is what makes mushrooms powerful allies in environmental clean-up, a process called mycoremediation.
Beyond nutrition, just being in the woods offers healing. Studies—particularly from Japan—show that time in nature reduces stress, boosts immunity, and improves mood. "Forest bathing" is real science: even looking at greenery lifts the spirit. So go for a hike. Breathe in the woods. Say hello to your fungal friends.
Whether it’s at your next summer cookout or on a quiet forest walk, take time to celebrate mushrooms—for their flavor, their function, and the quiet magic they bring to the world.
Rob Wunder
Eagle Scout, Foray Director - MOMS-KC, Master Naturalist - Loess Bluffs Chapter
Leave No Trace Certified, Wild Mushroom Certified
Resources:
Books:
Christopher Hobbs's Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide - Dr. Christopher Hobbs - "If you can only have 1 mushroom book, this should be it."
The Complete Mushroom Hunter: An Illustrated Guide to Foraging, Harvesting, and Enjoying Wild Mushrooms - Gary Lincoff - "Lincoff is a superstar in the world of fungi, and this book is an amazing resource for any fungi enthusiast."
Fantastic Fungi - Paul Stamets - "The companion book to the movie - available on Netflix - It offers a fantastic overview of all the multifaceted benefits of fungi. The movie is excellent."
Podcast:
The Mushroom Hour Podcast - "Each episode features an interview with an expert, from every mushroom related field imaginable. The host chooses not to use his name; brilliantly, the whole podcast is focused and directed towards the interview subject. You will learn incredible things if you listen to this podcast."
WNC Local Resources:
No Taste Like Home - https://notastelikehome.org/ - "Alan Muscat and his team offer a great experience. You will get to know a variety of local plants and fungi, and nothing - I mean, nothing - can replace learning from an experienced forager like Alan." http://www.alanmuskat.com/the-mushroom-man/
Asheville Mushroom Club - https://ashevillemushroomclub.org/
NAMA - The North American Mycological Association - https://namyco.org/
