There's Fungus Among Us After Hurricane, Rainstorms

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, we are slipping into the autumn faster than ever. But before the weather turns cool, there is still plenty of time to enjoy what the summer heat has to offer.

Located just outside Cockeysville, Oregon Ridge is only about 10 miles away. Those familiar with this trail system know that it offers a mix of difficulties with varying terrain.

The mid-sections and majority of the Loggers and S. James Campbell trails are flat and easy to navigate. However, both trails start out and end with a fairly steep climb or descent.

As you hike along these trails you may come across fallen trees and other debris likely in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Nothing is too difficult to navigate around, however, and should be cleared soon.

With eyes fixed on the terrain ahead or scanning for wildlife, you may not notice some of the most interesting residents of the forest you’re hiking through. This week, the colorful mushrooms in a variety of shapes and sizes weren't hard to notice as they lined much of the trail.

After a heavy rain, it’s not unusual to notice an abundance of these fungi poking their way through dead leaves and along fallen trees. With the weather still fairly warm, it’s a great time to see them before the season changes.

You should be extremely cautious before consuming any mushrooms you find in the woods, as most of them are inedible or even poisonous. However, there are plenty of other ways to appreciate these unique organisms.

A fun activity for the kids is to collect a few mushrooms along your hike and use them to make spore prints after you get home. This is a pretty simple activity with few materials required. Here's some basic instructions from Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Perhaps the most prized edible mushroom in our area is the morel. The typical growing season for these delicious fungi is mid-spring to early summer, so you won’t likely find them any time soon. Find more information about morels and other edible mushrooms by visiting morels.com.

Mushroom hunting can be a lot of fun, and a great way to enhance your hiking experience. If you are interested in learning more about some of the fungi found in and around Oregon Ridge Park, be sure to visit the Nature Center.