Mushrooming at S.B. Elliott State Park

On the last Saturday in July, my family and I attended a Central Pennsylvania Mushroom Club meeting at S.B. Elliott State Park. Throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall months, CPMC meets at various locations throughout Central Pennsylvania to hunt, talk, and teach about mushrooms. This meeting was my first time visiting S.B. Elliott State Park and hunting for mushrooms in July!

In the same year the Civilian Conservation Corps established Camp S-116-PA, 1933, the Department of Forests and Waters created S.B. Elliott State Park. A memorial plaque to Simon B. Elliott, a dedicated conservationist, was erected to commemorate the park. This heartfelt memorial is now shrouded by trees, which, I imagine, Simon B. Elliott would have liked. The CCC Lodge, outbuildings, and pavilions remain, which looked magnificently historical and mysterious.

Promptly at 1:00pm, our meeting divided into three groups. One group headed in the direction of the bog, which may be either the “Wallace Sphagnum Bog” or “Crystal Springs Bog.” I didn’t have the time on this trip, so I noted it for future exploration. Another followed Crystal Springs Road to walk up the snowmobile trails. The last group, which we followed, headed towards the wooded area between our pavilion and the old Dague Nursery. This area was composed of second-growth woodland, with lots of oak, beech, and evergreen trees. I also spotted plenty of Christmas Fern and New York Fern. Some trees had naturally fallen, but a small handful had been cut down and left to rot.

Just as we set out on our hunt, a light rain passed through our area. For a brief time, the rain cooled us off, but the humidity quickly ramped up again, and the bugs emerged. For a while, we found slugs and snails before seeing any mushrooms! I identified Western Dusky Slugs, but the snails escaped me. I was so focused on mushrooms that I forgot to take pictures of them.

After the slugs and ferns, we spotted Monotropa uniflora, Ghost Pipes. These perennial wildflowers are found all throughout Pennsylvania. The plants are a mycoheterotroph, a parasitic flower hosted by fungi in the Russulaceae family. Ghost Pipes are known to be the favorite flower of Emily Dickinson. I hadn’t seen any in person for many years. I couldn’t take a single step without nearly crushing a bunch of Ghost Pipes!

As the humidity settled over us, we finally started spotting mushrooms. We were on the hunt for a Russula aeruginea, the Green Russula, which my sister spotted and took to our walk leader. I found some Crown-Tipped Coral Fungus sprouting in a large clump on a rotting log. I reached the point where I felt like every glance was full of mushrooms. We counted more than ten species from our small group alone. Favorites of mine were Oak Mazegill, Crowded Parchment, and Berkeley’s Polypore.

Towards the end of our walk, our group stumbled upon a large growth of Omphalotus olearius, the jack-o’lantern mushroom. These poisonous mushrooms fruit at a similar time to Chantarelles, and look eerily alike. Jack-o’lantern mushrooms possess true gills, a feature Chantarelles lack. Plus, jack-o’lantern mushrooms are vivid orange, and are the same color throughout. While I know scientifically these mushrooms are poisonous enough to cause harm to human beings, I can’t imagine ever being tempted to eat them. There is a certain something in their appearance and smell that sets off my primitive instinct to leave them alone.

After we finished our walk, all the groups gathered at a pavilion to begin identifying all the mushrooms found. Quickly the plates of identified specimens filled two picnic tables, and the heady scent of fresh fungi filled the air. Club leaders walked us through the species and families one by one. One of the best parts of the club is that there is a mix of ages and experience, creating a wealth of knowledge. I love to simply listen to them discuss different specimens or trade stories.

All too soon, my family and I packed up our foraging baskets and backpacks. Tired and sweaty, we loaded in my Jeep and headed east on I-80. Mushrooms were on the mind as we discussed our plans for mushrooming in August. Soon a copy of Field Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic will be on my doorstep, ready for more mushrooming adventures.

If you are interested in joining a local mushroom club, please check out NAMA, the North American Mycological Association. A database of mushroom clubs throughout the United States is on their website at https://namyco.org/clubs/. The schedule of events for the Central Pennsylvania Mushroom Club is on their website at https://centralpamushroom.club/events/.

Noticing April Yard Flowers

On my quest to explore the nature close to me, I have spent a lot more time in my own yard than I expected. A long-standing tradition of grass lawns in America has taught many generations that our backyards are devoid of nature, not full of it. Of course, I know better than that! Yet, I still found myself trapped in the belief that nothing exciting or interesting grows in my yard.

Two things have changed how I view my backyard:
1. I’ve been spending more time in my own yard
2. My lawnmower needed repaired

In the months I’ve been spending more time outside, my yard has transformed from a brown, barren wasteland to thriving blanket of plants. In years past, I would be dragging the mower out, spending two hours on a weeknight cutting the grass lower than the neighboring yards. This year is a little different- our aging mower needed repaired, delaying the “first cut” by a few weeks.

Coupled with my increased time spent on the patio- primarily doing “back porch birding” and reading after work- more subtle changes jump out at me. Early last week, a tiny blue flower popped up in the time between lunchtime birding and evening reading. A day later, smoky purple stalks shot up and revealed speckled flowers. By the weekend, violets erupted across the yard.

On my 0.33-acre property, I found 9 species of flowering forbs: Moss Phlox, Ground-Ivy, Little Mouse-Ear, Philadelphia Fleabane, Hairy Bittercress, Lesser Periwinkle, Grey Field-Speedwell, Birds’-eye Speedwell, and Common Blue Violet. In early- to mid-April, only a handful were blooming. Most are nearly budding and will most likely bloom in another week or so, revealing their flowers to the world.

While beautiful, some of these species are not native to my ecoregion. Veronica polita, the Grey Field-Speedwell, was most likely introduced by settlers in Europe. White-tailed deer and Eastern cottontail don’t appear to favor the plant, and it will continue to spread in areas that have thin soil and are infrequently mown. Another plant in my yard, Glechoma hederacea, Ground-Ivy, was introduced as a medicinal plant by European settlers and left to grow wild.

On the flip side, two species I’ve noticed are native to Pennsylvania- violets and Moss Phlox. Violets are a favorite of mine, and in my ecoregion grow as the Common Blue, or if I’m lucky, the Northern White. My yard lies low and retains water well, great habitat for Common Blue violets. Near my grandmother’s house, in a patch of wood, Northern White Violets grow up from the leaf litter. The other native flower, Moss Phlox, is often cultivated as a ground cover in my area. While I’ve never purposefully planted phlox, I appreciate volunteering to crowd out unsavory species.

Right now, the lawn is over 6 inches tall, and over 9 inches tall in especially lush areas. My lawnmower is due to be returned any day, and I dread it. I’m torn between allowing my lawn to grow into a meadow and keeping it trimmed. I’ve always wanted to grow a native grass meadow for a lawn and am free of homeowner’s authorities to prevent me- yet the knowledge that a lawn meadow will attract ticks holds me back. Keeping a trimmed lawn will permit me to be outside more often and enjoy what is there. A compromise my partner proposed is to simply mow less, and when we do mow, trim the grass on the highest blade setting.

I’m going to attempt to hold out to see some of the other flowers before trimming the yard. The Little Mouse-Ear, Philadelphia Fleabane, and Hairy Bittercress are only days away from bloom. Even then, I may attempt to wait even longer to allow the native species to pollinate and grow seeds. Yet, I know I can’t wait forever. Eventually I will need to trim the lawn and carry on with my explorations beyond the yard.

Lichen Love Affair

*Flavopunctelia soredica*, Powder-edged Speckled Greenshield

In February, I attended Community Nature Journaling at Shaver’s Creek. The day’s lessons focused on the biology and ecology of lichens. This event opened my eyes to lichenology and has been a source of many hours of study.

Lichens are the product of a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi. The fungi is the dominant partner- dictating the lichen’s thallus to fruiting body. The algae is a type of cyanobacterium and provides food for the fungi. Lichens will grow on many substrates, and we will see them often on trees and rocks. Lichens are among the first colonizers of bare rocks. They aid in the development of better habitat for mosses and other plants.

*Flavoparmelia caperata*, Common Greenshield

Lichens grow on many different substrates in a vast array of environments. Lichens occur everywhere in Pennsylvania. Lichens are often accessible for study- my favorite place to find them are in parking lots! Even though lichens are common, they are very slow to grow and develop. It’s best to snap a picture and move on. Disturbing any lichen, especially a large one, will damage years or decades of growth.

My favorite lichen species is Flavoparmelia caperata – the Common Greenshield Lichen. This species is among the most common species of lichens in North America. On a tree, it has a bright, limey green foliose thallus. The edges of the leaves are smooth and feel tough and leathery to my touch. My second favorite is Parmotrema hypotropum – the Powdered Ruffle Lichen. This lichen reminds me of the tops of lettuce with their deep ruffled surface. The colors of the Powdered Ruffle Lichen aren’t as intense as my favorite, but are still beautiful to me.

*Xanthoria parietina*, Common Sunburst Lichen

Despite the variety of lichens, I’ve had a difficult time finding a definitive field guide. I’ve been relying on the Pennsylvania Bryophyte and Lichen Diversity Project on iNaturalist. I post my pictures and rough identifications, and a member of the project checks my work. I learn a lot from their corrections, and have become better at identification.

With the summer months coming, it will become more difficult for me to spot lichens. My favorite species’ preferred habitats are on trees. Once leaves emerge, I’m not sure if the lichens will be so easy to spot. Plus, any exposed rocks will soon cover with brush and vines. I’m hoping to spend the “off” months looking for a good field guide. One book exists, Urban Lichens by Jessica Allen and James Lendemer. There’s many websites that appear promising but are difficult to navigate.

The last few months have been full of lichen-related exploration and learning. I look forward to more en-lichen-ing discoveries as the seasons progress!

A Mussel Mystery at Bald Eagle

In mid-March, the US Army Corps of Engineers opens the gate of Foster Joseph Sayers Dam to drain the lake. In a few days, the lakebed lies exposed to the elements. People gather to meander amongst the rubble of historic Howard- myself included.

On a long post-work walk, I was able to explore the edge of the lake along the Bald Eagle Launch side of the dam. For five years I’ve made the annual trek along the gravel ridge that extends from the launch site. This gravel is old fill, a mixture of sandstone, limestone, and slag. More artificial reefs and ridges dot the land, placed to assist in building habitat.

Another type of creature benefits from these gravel beds- freshwater mussels.

Mussels live in flowing water, ranging from streams to rivers. Some species adapted to living in lakes. Mussels anchor themselves at the bottom of the stream with their byssal threads. To feed, mussels filter the water for nutrients, cleaning water of algae and muck along the way. Mussels are food for some mammals, including raccoons, otters, mink, and muskrat. In the past, mussels were food for the indigenous people of Pennsylvania. The Delaware and Lenape tribes included mussels as part of their regular diet.

Unfortunately, mussels are on the edge of extinction in Pennsylvania. Water pollution, habitat destruction, and invasive species put our mussels at great risk. The Salamander Mussel and Eastern Pearlshell are at enormous risk of extirpation. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are managing them using Species Action Plans. Using habitat management plans, they are restoring habitat throughout the Commonwealth. They also try to control invasive species- a battle hard fought and rarely won.

Walking the lakebed as a little girl, I would find large shells, at least 3 inches wide. As an adult, I often find smaller shells, ranging from 1 inch to 2 inches wide. Over the years, I have seen a significant decrease in the number of shells I find. On a similar walk 3 years ago, I found the remains of at least 10 mussels, while I only found 2 this year.

As I walked more, I started wondering what kind of mussels I found. On my way back, I stopped to take pictures of the shells. While it would have been easy to take the shells home with me, it’s safer to leave them where I found them. In the event the mussel was an endangered species, it’s illegal in Pennsylvania to have the shells. Once I finished with pictures, I hurried home.

Up to 4 species of mussels may appear in the Bald Eagle: Triangle Floater, Eastern Elliptio, Green Floater, and Creeper. I studied the pictures in the guide and compared to the pictures I took. The pictures and short descriptions were great, but I also searched on the web for more pictures. The shells I found looked like 2 of the species, the Triangle Floater and Green Floater.

Ultimately, I decided I found Green Floater shells. In addition to being small, I can see green stripes on the worn yellow shells. The shells are very thin, with a shallow umbo. The inside of the shells has a white, almost silvery lining. I read online that these mussels can be found in sandy and gravelly substrate, buried up to 15 inches deep. The water above is usually quiet pools and eddies. When water levels are high, this area of the lake is quiet, with gentle waves always lapping at the shore.

In 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed federal protection for Green Floaters. In a press release, USFWS shared that Green Floaters are rare in almost 80% of the watersheds where they occur. Since the USFWS is attempting to list this species as endangered, I felt like I should get a second opinion. I sent an email to the USFWS Ecological Services Office in State College, PA for confirmation. I have yet to hear back.

As the water levels have fallen throughout the past week, the state of these mussels has been on my mind. As I walk through and explore the lakebed, I’ve been keeping my eye out for more shells. Easier said than done, but another task of a naturalist I take seriously, and yet with great joy.

Works Cited

Delaware Tribe of Indians. “Foods Eaten by the Lenape Indians.” Delawaretribe.org, Official Web Site of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, 27 June 2013, www.delawaretribe.org/blog/2013/06/27/foods-eaten-by-the-lenape-indians/. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Macdonald, Bridget, and Jennifer Koches. “Service Proposes Protections for Green Floater Mussel.” FWS.gov, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 25 July 2023, www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-07/service-proposes-protections-green-floater-mussel. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. A Field Guide to Pennsylvania’s Freshwater Mussels. Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, 9 Feb. 2018.

—. “Aquatic Invasive Species.” PA.gov, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2025, www.pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat/conservation/aquatic-invasive-species.html. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

—. “Species Action Plan: Eastern Pearlshell (Margaritifera Margaritifera).” PA.gov, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, June 2023. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

—. “Species Action Plan: Salamander Mussel (Simpsonaias Ambigua).” PA.gov, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, June 2023. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Green Floater (Lasmigona Subviridis) .” FWS.gov, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2023, www.fws.gov/species/green-floater-lasmigona-subviridis. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Signs of Spring

The concrete porch was cold under me, but I paid no attention as I studied the bird on my suet feeder. I watched the glossy bird rip into the suet cake, pause, and gobble down its bite. This bird, a European Starling, is the scourge of my days, devouring pound after pound of seeds and suet. Yet, I can’t deny anything- it, too, is trying to survive in adverse conditions.

In my attempt to spend 1,000 hours outside, I have been doing daily lunchtime birding. At home, I perch on my back porch and at work, I find a sunshine-drenched bench. All I have is my cellphone and binoculars. I keep to one place for about 15 minutes, recording all the birds I see and hear. The list is never very long, but I enjoy the regularity of the community of birds around me.

On this afternoon, mine and my neighbor’s yards were full of birds. Mourning doves roosted in the trees, grooming in the sunshine. A Red-Tailed Hawk called from overhead as it flew by. A solitary crow annoyed a flock of European Starlings to my left. House Sparrows and House Finches argued over feeder space. As I wound down my session, a female Northern Cardinal appeared nearby. At last, two Tufted Titmice darted to the maple tree. All the while, a chorus of American Robins called, completing the scene.

As I had my camera on hand, I decided to take pictures of some of the spring buds and shoots. The buds on the roosting tree of the Mourning Dove are already tinged red. Close by, the magnolia buds are fuzzy, growing larger by the day. On my remaining forsythia bush, the yellow buds are plentiful. I regret not ripping it out this past fall; this bush is a pain to care for. That said, I couldn’t rip it out- birds like roosting in its tangled branches.

In the front yard, signs of Spring are a little different. Leaves are sprouting for daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. Over winter, I debated on keeping them. On one hand, I could remove them and plant native flowers. On the other, I planted them before I knew about native flowers. The memory of my younger self prevailed; I decided to keep them. I will need to control spread of these plants. Hyacinths will produce bulblets as off-shoots and spread under the soil. Regular removal will curtail this spread and prevent an invasion in my yard.

Amongst the returning grasses are the thin rapier-like leaves of wild garlic. Allium vineale is also known as “Crow Garlic” and “Field Garlic.” Introduced in the mid-1800s, wild garlic spread to cover much of the eastern United States. While wild garlic is edible, I wouldn’t eat it. The garlic flavor is pervasive and overrules all others in dishes. The taste is so strong that the flavor will get into the butter and milk of cows that have eaten wild garlic.

I have a few more weeks until the Spring wildflowers start blooming. Some friends have already seen skunk cabbage, the smelly harbinger of longer days. I’m waiting for Virginia Springbeauty and Wild Columbine. The emergence of these two flowers signals true Spring to me. I’m also excited for Yellow Trout Lily and Bloodroot this year. I will need to leave my yard to find these flowers- but it is a trek I look forward to.

These subtle signs of Spring are refreshing to my winter-weary eyes. With a little noticing, the drab landscape burst into life. With returning birds, the plants are emerging from their dormancy. Each day, we’re one step closer to the chirping of nestlings and the leafing-out of trees. Now, if the Purple Martins would simply come back…

What are you noticing about Spring near you? Share in the comments!