Brimming with Boletes

Despite a prolonged dry spell, the woods are brimming with boletes. September mornings have found the forest heavy with river valley fog, and host trees are generously sharing groundwater with my favorite mycorrhizal fungi.

The result is a delicious convergence of dry ground and breathtaking flushes, especially in areas with a high water table. I took the pooch for a labor day stroll in our local woodland, expecting to find nothing but mosquitoes in the parched woods. As I descended to the shores of a mucky pond, I saw hundred-strong legions of slippery jacks (Suillus luteus) and long veins of painted boletes (Suillus pictus). Soon, I found myself in a bolete stronghold, flanked by poised and poisonous lilac-browns (Sutorius eximius). The flushes were staggering, but the slippery Suillus and sickening Sutorius did little to whet my appetite.

I let the boletes lead me to a second pond, where I was greeted by a trio of plump, brick-red beauties. I knelt down to take a closer look, and realized I was face-to-face with firm, bug-free bicolors (Boletus bicolor). The yellow pores bruised dark blue upon handling, while the fragrant yellow flesh very slowly bruised a pale blue. The stipe was the deep red hue of the cap, yielding to yellow towards the top. The aroma was, for lack of a better word, boletealicious.

I left the bicolors in the ground and began walking away from the pond, under a mixed canopy dominated by oak and hemlock. I didn’t have to look hard to find the next bicolor, an overripe and pungent behemoth. This specimen, what I call a “flag,” led me to another bicolor hotspot, where I found everything from pristine new growth to larvae-littered giants.

I always love finding bicolor boletes. Though their ID can be slightly tricky, their vivid primary colors, chunky stature, and divine flavor make them a standout species in any forest. If they didn’t taste so good, bicolors could get by on their good looks alone. In fact, there is only one bolete I would rather find - the king, or porcini.

And that is exactly what I found next - a pair of chubby and pristine piglets - underneath hemlock and spruce. Do not be discouraged by the dry conditions - the boletes are having a memorable flush!

ForageCast for the next two weeks