Events
Walk into the Magical World of Mushrooms
- September 24th, 2011 10am - 12pm
- Dahl Forest, 1307 Geeza Rd, Gelert, Haliburton County
- Dahl Forest is at the end of Geeza Rd (map). Meet at the Front Gates.
Who would have thought the humble fungus would be so popular?
Those who joined us on our Walk into the Magical World of Mushrooms last September know that about 100 people showed up to discover the enormous variety of fungi in the beautiful Dahl Forest. Maybe it was the mushrooms' fantastical names - the Stinkhorn and Tippler's Bane - that attracted people, or maybe it was the hope of fascinating fungal insights by our guide, Pat Burchell, that swelled the crowd.
But in any case, the event was so popular that we're running it again on September 24th.
So what mushrooms might you see in the Dahl Forest and elsewhere in Haliburton County?
- Stinkhorn: The stinkhorn mushroom is well named. The fruiting body stands up tall, with a sticky spore mass that smells of carrion or dung to attract insects that will help disperse its spores.
- Earth tongues: They're easily seen with their bright yellow fruiting bodies poking into the air. Will Jones, in a report on last year's event in the County Voice, described them as looking like nuggets of sunshine dropped from the sky.
- Oyster mushroom: This gilled mushroom can be eaten and is cultivated around the world for food. It also contains statins that could reduce cholesterol.
- Blewit: Another widely eaten mushroom, the blewit can be tan or purple in colour. It grows on decaying leaf litter.
So come out and join us to see if you can find any of these mushrooms and learn more about the fungal life of the Dahl Forest.
A part of the Hike Haliburton Festival, HHLT joins Pat Burchell, president of the Toronto Mycological Society for a fun and educational mushroom walk at the Dahl Forest. Pat will start with an introduction to mushrooms and educate participants about edible and poisonous mushrooms. For new fungi enthusiasts, she will also recommend good guidebooks for beginners. This walk may involve strolling through some of the Red Pine plantations, open field areas, and along the shoreline of the Burnt River. Good walking shoes/boots, weather appropriate clothing and water bottles are recommended for participants.
For more information, please call the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust at 705-454-8107 or email info@haliburtonhlandtrust.ca
Last Updated: Aug 15 2011 12:48:33 pm.
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Photo: Lyn Winans
Did You Know...
that the Dahl Family has planted over 100,000 trees on their 500-acre property. For over 50 years, they have spent their time on tree planting, conservation and preserving the property. Find out more about The Dahl's Forest.
