Photo Galleries

This year's morel foray was another huge a success! Yes, many morels were found. The location was same as last year, Gil's Littlefields Farm, NY (across the street and a little down the road from Progy's place). Again the weather was unusually warm for spring and no freezing rain. Looks like we have settled on a good location and a good date. Everyone had a great time, and lots of really good food.

Again dry weather in the weeks leading up to the foray did not help with creating those massive black trumpet finds the foray is known for. Never-the-less a wide variety of mushrooms were found. We were also blessed with great weather on that day. We did find good examples of edibles and their not so good look alikes.

Great weather, lots of fungus, especially a wide variety of chanterelle. Progy's foray was a huge success as usual. Unfortunatly this was the last foray that will be hosted at Richard's Place.

Linda's foray had benefited from lots of preforay rain like Richards. Great weather that day and a wide variety of fungy were found.

2011

This year's morel foray was huge a success! Yes, many morels were found. The location was same as last year, Gil's Littlefields Farm, NY (across the street and a little down the road from Progy's place). The weather was unusually warm for spring and no freezing rain if you can imagine that. Everyone had a great time, and lots of really good food.

Yep the two weeks of drought and intense heat did not help with creating those massive black trumpet finds the foray is known for. Never-the-less a wide variety of mushrooms were found. We were also blessed with great weather on that day. Matter of fact many stayed to socialize long after the foray was officially over.

Great weather, lots of fungus, especially a wide variety of chanterelle. Progy's foray was a huge success as usual. We even missed the bad weather that night from the hurricane.

Linda's foray had benefited from lots of preforay rain like Richards. Great weather that day and a host of fungy were found.

2010

This year's morel foray was huge a success! Yes, many morels were found. The location was Gil's Littlefields Farm, NY (across the street and a little down the road from Progy's place). The weather was great, sunny warm with a pleasant breeze. Everyone had a great time, and lots of really good food.

Unlike previous years, the pre foray weather just did not cooperate. We had barely enough rain to have some fruitings. We had over 30 members in attendance including quite a few new memberships. All right! Never-the-less a wide variety of mushrooms were found.

Big variety of finds, just not in numbers. Never-the-less some rare fungy were found. As usual for the end of the summer foray, we had a big chicken dinner and lots of mushroom dishes.

Linda's foray had plenty pre foray rain, and a clear day for the foray. Lots of edibles were found. It was a great foray, like every year, and had great attendance, like every year. Check out the photos.

2009

This year's morel foray was a success! Yes, morels were found. The location was Progovitz Ranch, NY. The weather was good. Everyone had a great time, and lots of really good food.

The morning at the Martin's Forest was cloudy and threatened to rain but stayed rain free until the foray ended. This year's the rains meant lots of edible mushrooms were found. The scarcity of photos demonstrates the need for other members to bring their cameras, take photos and then email or mail a cd to Clay. You can see what few photos we have in this gallery.

The Foray at the Progovitz's Ranch started (the unofficial Friday night) with lots of rain. Luckily that cleared up on Saturday morning. We had a few small showers in the evening, but that cleared in time for the bonfire. List of Finds

Linda's foray had plenty pre foray rain, and a clear day for the foray. It was a great foray, like every year, and had great attendance, like every year. Check out the photos. List of Finds

2008

This year's morel foray was a success! Yes, morels were found. The location was Shindagin State Forest, Honeypot Rd. Candor, NY. The weather was cold and wet. But we soldered on and had a great time, and lots of really good food.

The morning at the Martin's Forest opened with pouring rain, but it cleared off before the foray began. This year's the rains meant lots of different mushrooms were found. Another item of note, the generous contribution of Dawn Boyle of mushrooms collected and frozen by her late husband John, put Clay into overdrive. You can see what all was cooked up in the photo captions or in the newsletter.

Although the foray at Progovitz's Ranch in Fenton did not officially start on Friday, many of the crew showed up anyway. The weather was great all weekend and lots (number and variety) of mushrooms were found. As usual the food was great. Saturday featured two forays and a band. We also enjoyed bonfires on each night. For more details, see the photo captions or the next newsletter.

Linda's foray had plenty pre foray rain, and a little foray rain. It was a great foray, like every year, and had great attendance, like every year. Check out the photos.

2007

This year's morel foray was at Shindagin State Forest, Honeypot Rd. Candor, NY. The weather was especially problematic this year for morels. The temp stayed low, especially at nights and there was very little rain. What rain we did get came in short heavy showers that don't do much for crops or mushrooms. On the other hand, lots of really good food turned up.

Summer1

This year's Summer 1 foray was again at the Martin's Forest in Oakland PA. Despite the lack of rain a fine group turned out for the event. While in previous years so many edibles were found that we were able to cook some right on the spot, for every one to try, and send some home with folks, this year was not the case. Nevertheless, we did find examples of many edibles and shier look alikes. This allowed the attendees to be able to look, touch and smell the examples while the experts described what had been found. As usual there was lots of great food. Check out the pics!

Summer2

This year's Summer 2 foray was again at Richard Progovitz's ranch. Despite the lack of rain a fine group turned out for the event. While it was dry before and after the foray, at least the lightning did not take out the power and the band. What else was new, well, turkeys.... check the pics out.

Linda's foray had more pre foray rain than any of the other forays this year. Check out the photos.

2006

This year's morel foray was back at Shindagin State Forest, Honeypot Rd. Candor, NY. Last year we lacked rain, this year the lack of rain was not an issue! Nope, not one bit. Some giant morels were found, check out the photos for the rest of the story.

Summer1

This year's Summer 1 foray was back at the Martin's Forest in Oakland PA. A good group turned out and split into two forays, one went high, one went low. Both forays found lots of editibles. Dave Fisher did admit that the "harrowing" drive up the hill was worth it. See the photos.

SummerII

The first Summer II foray to be held at Richard Progovitz's ranch went well. Friday night featured a bonn fire, band and snacks and drinks. It was good seeing everyone, and of course stories of the June floods featured prominently. Saturday started with coffee and Rich's pancakes and sausage. The weather cooperated most of the day allowing the first foray to proceed. The foray covered a variety of environs. It started in old fields, moved to pines, then on to mature forest interspersed with swampy areas and finished by following a stream bordered by groupings of pines alternating with deciduous woods. Lots of edibles were found including entoloma (aborted), grifola, and laetiporus, among others. And Linda was able to add to the otherwise bountiful lunch and dinner. Of course a large amount of other species were found and identified. There was a brief rain after lunch but it ended in time to allow for a few folks to do a mini foray in the woods across the road. The brief storm did cause the band action to be reduced. Despite the power outage we were treated to a great slide show (two actually) on mushroom cultivation by John Boyle. And what would Sunday morning be without Rich's omelets, made to order. All in all, the first foray at this new spot was a great success. Here is a list of species found at the foray, compiled by John Boyle.

This year's last foray was at Linda Hammond's as usual, with the usual large turnout. Grifola's were still showing up, yet there were Armillara mella also, weird weather this year for sure! Linda leased some of her fields for corn, and guess what was found there? Ustilago maydis or corn smut. Sadly no one was prepared with a recipe. In Mexico it is considered a delicacy, even being preserved and sold for a higher price than corn. A brief storm blew through during the foray, but everyone survived it, even those hiding in a pine grove when the winds hit! As in past years, the tables were laden with a wonderful variety of food items, many featuring…… mushrooms! Dave Fischer gave a nice presentation on the day's finds, and fielded questions for quite a while.

2005

This year's morel foray was at the IBM Glens in Endwell, NY again. The combination of low levels of rain and the cool temperatures greatly reduced the fungal activity. Never-the-less everyone that attended had a lot of fun. There were some oyster mushrooms collected and eaten but the morels did not make a showing (except as rehydrated in the snacks).

This was the first year for this foray. It was held at the Clay and Lori Martin's property in Oakland PA. The low levels of rain of the earlier part of the year have continued, and continued. We were teased by the weathermen that in the days immediately before the foray the Oakland/Susquehanna area would be visited by some thunderstorms. Fat Chance! Never-the-less over 17 folks (including a few new members) enjoyed a nice romp in the woods. Two forays headed out, one would walk the lower road where a variety of chanterells had been found in previous years. The other would load up into Clay's truck for the rocky climb to the top of the hill. Both groups brought back a nice selection, especially given the dry weather. The second group also brought back a nice collection of Lobster Mushrooms (Hypomyces lactifluorum) and Smooth Chanterelles (Cantharellus lutescens). After the usual post foray snacks were cooked, these two delicacies were prepared (individually) for all to enjoy. Imagine what the foray would have been like with more rain! (in the days before of course)

The 2005 Summer Foray at Guestward-Ho Campground in Deposit was SVMS's last at that location. Over the past 10 years or so, our club enjoyed the Facilities, the Owners, other Campers, the Food, our Guests and the Fungi that were found in the neighboring forests. However, last year and the past few years in August yielded very dry to drought-like conditions, which negatively affected the number of fungal species that we were finding. Like the previous year our foray featured a giant chunk of beef cooked to perfection by Chef Tom Erway in a hardwood smoker. Dave Fischer and Jonh Boyle treated us to a glimpse of their mushroom knowledge and fascination. The two forays were productive with many species found, Unlike last year we did not get a large amount of edibles.

The Fall foray was held again at the Linda Hammond Estate outside of Owego, NY. Many showed up and lots of food was served. Quite a variety of mushrooms were found including 4 different varieties of Podpinki. And you would not believe the size of the root on a Rooted Oudemansiella, a must see.

2004

This year's morel foray was at a different place, the IBM Glens in Endwell, NY. This is the first time SVMS will foray into the IBM Glens. SVMS is in discussions with the Waterman Conservation Center (WCC) to partner with them—supply fungal education, forays, and help maintain the 200 acres. The WCC is at the top of the list to inherit the Glens from IBM, by the end of this summer. If this opportunity becomes reality, then SVMS will have found a home for future Forays. The Glens are truly an historic old growth woodland located on prime real estate that will be pledged by the WCC to never be commercialized. The IBM Glens is a mycologically rich parcel of land!

Summer

The Summer foray was held in the environs around the Guestward Ho Campground. The foray (but not necessarily the mushroom hunting) started Friday night with the usual get together to share snacks and the fine company. Many of the members camp out all weekend. The main foray (mushroom hunting) was scheduled for Saturday. Saturday night was the usual feast, this year featuring a 35lb chunk of beef cooked to perfection by Chef Tom Erway in a hardwood smoker. Unlike some of the previous years when we were hampered by months of drought, this year we had no lack of moisture. Really, buckets full. This caused a few alterations to the schedule, really! Buckets! It was a fun time none the less. Sunday morning it cleared up and was beautiful, just in time for the traditional $1 made to order omelets.

The Fall foray was held at the Linda Hammond Estate outside of Owego, NY. Many showed up and snacks were served. Actually it was a bit heavier than snacks as the other 35lb. uncooked roast beef from the summer foray was served along with bear stroganoff and lots of other great food. Quite a variety of mushrooms were found despite the previous week's dry weather. We had a guest Mycologist from Canada, Richard Aaron.

2003

This year's morel foray was at the usual place, Shindagin Hollow State Forest. The foray got off to a late start when a New York State DEC Officer Steve Farrand drove by the foray location as everyone was arriving. He felt that we were not allowed (by law) to pick mushrooms on state forest land. Imagine that! We waited as he checked with the main office. As it turns out WE were right, but with no hard feelings he joined us on the foray and later joined the organization. As usual we snacked on morel and other mushroom treats after the foray. A few morels were found, but this year they seemed to peak a few weeks before the foray.

NEMF

SVMS hosted the NEMF 9th Annual Sam Ristich Fall foray at Scott's on Oquaga Lake, September 11 through 14th. The foray was co-sponsored by SVMS, MYMS, CNYMS, and RAMA. The pictures are also from the Pre-NEMF "planning" foray, where the un-wise volunteered to help with aspects of the NEMF foray. The main features of the NEMF foray, due to great planning, were that all the individual forays were within 10 minutes bus ride of Scott's. In addition to the usual mushroom tasting, SVMS provided a separate mushroom cooking class organized similar to that "Bam" guy on the food network. Each evening there was a lecture by a well known writer or scientist, followed by a two hour social. Lots of forays, programs and fun of course. For more photos of this foray visit Dianna Smith's site.

2001

This year's morel foray was at the usual place, Shindagin Hollow State Forest.

The Fall foray was held at the Linda Hammond Estate outside of Owego, NY. Many showed up and snacks were served.

2000