Cambridge, UK, October 2023

Velvet shanks (Flammulina velutipes)

These velvet shanks were unseasonably early. They like cold weather, and will start to fruit after the first proper frosts, usually in December and January in the UK.

They are a highly sought mushroom, valued for their slightly sweet flavour - they are the wild form of the cultivated enoki mushroom. I cooked them up with some portobellos, red wine, rosemary and thyme and had the resulting gravy over broccoli and a mountain of sweet potato mash.

Launching Into Nature Interpretation

Hey Everyone! My name is Evan, in my last semester here at Guelph. Welcome to my blog:)

My current relationship with nature seems to be transitioning from a purely physical perspective to one that strives to learn more about the ins and outs of what makes things possible, and the purpose behind it. Why do certain trees grow in certain environments? Why are certain plants and mushrooms edible and others poisonous? Did we really go through thousands of generations with people eating a certain plant, dying as a result, and now being taught not to eat that certain plant through word of mouth? These are some of the types of questions I ponder as my current relationship with nature grows.

Besides this, my physical relationship with nature now consists of going on hikes with friends, foraging or just finding different shrubs, trees, or fungi, and since the completion of my program, viewing the natural landscape as a medium for sustainable designs. I just finished my program in Landscape Architecture and now finishing up electives. My hope is that I can take what I have gained and apply that knowledge to interpreting nature for others.  At this point in my life I feel so educated about nature and at the same time feel like I have barely scratched the surface.

I discovered these little guys on a walk when I was living in my student house in Guelph. Based on the fact that it was during winter months and growing on a dead piece of hardwood, I'm fairly certain these are Flammulina velutipes, commonly known as velvet shank or enoki mushrooms (they are edible and choice but I'm only a beginner so I just got this cool picture instead)

The wonderful thing about my current relationship with nature is that I never used to think this way. As a kid, I never thought about the purpose behind things in nature, I just assumed a thing is a thing because it grows and that’s it. I believe my perspective towards nature has evolved through experience. Experiencing climbing trees, falling off trees, trying to catch frogs in a local pond, or using a torch to burn a leach off my leg because I was trying to catch frogs in a local pond. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a middle-class household, and so my old home used to back onto a small ravine and mixed deciduous forest.

Every day after school, my brother and I would put on our waterproof boots, maybe pack a granola bar in the pocket for a snack later, and we would just walk. Walk into the forest, straying away from any desired lines, making your own path, jumping in puddles, listening to birds chirping, or getting hit in the face with a buckthorn branch because your brother didn’t wait for you. We would just walk and talk until there was no more forest to be found or until we stumbled upon the next subdivision of neighborhoods. I truly believe this is where my appreciation and curiosity for nature was born. 

A little blurry but I think it still gets the point across lol. My brother on the right and myself on the left after one of the many afterschool hikes.

When thinking about how one develops a sense of place, it typically can happen in more than one setting, and even under different contexts. For me, my sense of place stems from two major experiences in my life so far. The first, already mentioned above, but I really found such bliss going on hikes and walking in the forest behind my childhood home. It’s hard to describe the feeling, but it feels like you are transported into an entirely new world, where you experience taking your first steps past the forest edge, the wind no longer hitting your face and this calm silence grows until it becomes a peaceful white noise. I really felt like this forest was part of my home; I used to call it my backyard when I was younger because it really allowed me to find comfort in nature.

The second experience is going to my cottage every year. For context, my cottage sits on the shores of Georgian Bay, in Lion’s Head, Ontario. My grandad’s father bought the property in 1939, where they moved their little old trailer onto, and built the most vintage-looking bungalow which I now call my cottage. Georgian Bay is an incredible location, I may be biased but if you haven’t been there I highly suggest it. Connected to the Bruce trails and a part of the Niagara Escarpment, this environment offered a radically different landscape than where I grew up, even though it’s only about four hours northwest. The rocky limestones coupled with blue shale make this environment unforgettable and have allowed me to experience having a sense of place in a completely different environment than what I’m used to. Thanks for reading and see you on the next blog:)

View of the Niagara Escarpment at Lion's Head Provincial Park, Ontario

What kind of mushroom are you?

Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes)

You are a welcome treat! People seek you out, and sometimes go to great lengths to be around you. However, sometimes you can be... let's be honest... gross. But don't worry! If you were in a mirror universe situation, you would definitely be the good twin. (I found out while making this quiz that this mushroom is no longer considered to be wild enoki! [Enoki are those long, skinny white mushrooms.] It is edible, and in my experience tends to grow a little too high up on trees. It is also very sticky, and it looks similar to Deadly Galerina, which is poisonous.)

Tiny velvet shanks Look how big the finger is in comparison 🇬🇧/🇩🇪/🇫🇷/🇪🇸/🇷🇺/🇵🇱🇨🇿/🇮🇹:⬇️ 🇬🇧: Velvet Shank / Enoki 🇩🇪: Gemeiner Samtfußrübling 🇫🇷: Flammulina velutipes 🇪🇸: Flammulina velutipes / Enoki 🇷🇺: Опёнок зимний 🇵🇱: Płomiennica zimowa 🇨🇿: Penízovka sametonohá 🇮🇹: Flammulina velutipes Scientific name: Flammulina velutipes 🍄: 👍🏻🤩🥳🤤- edible #pilze #pilzesammeln #mushroomlover #mushroomphotography #mushroomhunting #mushrooms #mushroom #foraging #foraginguk #foragingforfood #wildforaging #mushroomspotting #mushroomhunter #hongos #macrophotography #naturephotos #fantasticfungi #pilzebestimmen #magicmushrooms #naturephotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CnukNR8MLFo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

10/31/18

Q: Enoki, Enokitake, Velvet Foot, or Velvet Shank?

A: All Flammulina velutipes, and all good. I like them collected wild in spring when they taste like crabmeat.

here's some of my fungi pics from the last few weeks 💓🍄

in order: [idk this one tbh lol], orange pore fungus, amanita muscaria (fly agaric), and flammulina velutipes (velvet shank/wild enoki).

The winter mushrooms are really starting to take hold now. Found a few clusters of Velvet shanks (Flammulina velutipes) which are edible and relatively good, considering there isn't much on offer in terms of wild food this time of the year. These vibrant orange fungi are the wild version of the commonly cultivated "enoki" and can be found growing on a variety of different deadwood species (I commonly see them on ash and elm). They have a notoriously tough stem when grown in the wild, which many remove before consuming. Care must be taken in identifying these, as they bear a resemblance to the deadly Funeral bell (Galerina). #mushroom #mushrooms #fungi #fungus #wildfoodlove #shrooms #nature #foraging #forage #foraged #walk #bushcraft #survival #outdoor #walking #hiking #outdoors #shroomatnoon #mycology #fungusamongus #wildfood #survival #wilderness #woodland #woods #forest #countryside #mushroomsociety #england #cornwall

🇬🇧/🇩🇪/🇫🇷/🇪🇸/🇷🇺/🇵🇱🇨🇿/🇮🇹:⬇️ 🇬🇧: Velvet Shank / Enoki 🇩🇪: Gemeiner Samtfußrübling 🇫🇷: Flammulina velutipes 🇪🇸: Flammulina velutipes / Enoki 🇷🇺: Опёнок зимний 🇵🇱: Płomiennica zimowa 🇨🇿: Penízovka sametonohá 🇮🇹: Flammulina velutipes Scientific name: Flammulina velutipes 🍄: 👍🏻🤩🥳🤤- edible ℹ️ Interesting fact: 1. Caps from these fungi are edible and are grown commercially in Japan, where they are known as Enoki, Enokitake or Enoko-take. #mushroom #mushrooms #fungi #nature #mycology #fungus #mushroomsofinstagram #naturephotography #mushroomphotography #forest #macro #mushroomhunting #fungiphotography #mushroomsociety #art #pilze #food #funghi #naturelovers #shrooms #hongos #photography #autumn #mushroomlove #fungilove #fungusamongus #pilz #foodie #foodporn #mushroomart https://www.instagram.com/p/CncWxr-M20c/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🇬🇧/🇩🇪/🇫🇷/🇪🇸/🇷🇺/🇵🇱🇨🇿/🇮🇹:⬇️ 🇬🇧: Velvet Shank / Enoki 🇩🇪: Gemeiner Samtfußrübling 🇫🇷: Flammulina velutipes 🇪🇸: Flammulina velutipes / Enoki 🇷🇺: Опёнок зимний 🇵🇱: Płomiennica zimowa 🇨🇿: Penízovka sametonohá 🇮🇹: Flammulina velutipes Scientific name: Flammulina velutipes 🍄: 👍🏻🤩🥳🤤- edible #pilze #pilzesammeln #mushroomlover #mushroomphotography #mushroomhunting #mushrooms #mushroom #foraging #foraginguk #foragingforfood #wildforaging #mushroomspotting #mushroomhunter #hongos #macrophotography #naturephotos #fantasticfungi #pilzebestimmen #magicmushrooms #naturephotography Photo credit: @megmaddendesign https://www.instagram.com/p/CnSPRuOM1bv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🇬🇧/🇩🇪/🇫🇷/🇪🇸/🇷🇺/🇵🇱🇨🇿/🇮🇹:⬇️ 🇬🇧: Velvet Shank / Enoki 🇩🇪: Gemeiner Samtfußrübling 🇫🇷: Flammulina velutipes 🇪🇸: Flammulina velutipes / Enoki 🇷🇺: Опёнок зимний 🇵🇱: Płomiennica zimowa 🇨🇿: Penízovka sametonohá 🇮🇹: Flammulina velutipes Scientific name: Flammulina velutipes 🍄: 👍🏻🤩🥳🤤- edible #pilze #pilzesammeln #mushroomlover #mushroomphotography #mushroomhunting #mushrooms #mushroom #foraging #foraginguk #foragingforfood #wildforaging #mushroomspotting #mushroomhunter #hongos #macrophotography #naturephotos #fantasticfungi #pilzebestimmen #magicmushrooms #naturephotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CnMew0Gssxw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

🇬🇧/🇩🇪/🇫🇷/🇪🇸/🇷🇺/🇵🇱🇨🇿/🇮🇹:⬇️ 🇬🇧: Velvet Shank / Enoki 🇩🇪: Gemeiner Samtfußrübling 🇫🇷: Flammulina velutipes 🇪🇸: Flammulina velutipes / Enoki 🇷🇺: Опёнок зимний 🇵🇱: Płomiennica zimowa 🇨🇿: Penízovka sametonohá 🇮🇹: Flammulina velutipes Scientific name: Flammulina velutipes 🍄: 👍🏻🤩🥳🤤- edible Photos taken from a very good website which needs supporting: https://www.first-nature.com Please consider supporting them so they they can keep up the good work! #pilze #pilzesammeln #mushroomlover #mushroomphotography #mushroomhunting #mushrooms #mushroom #foraging #foraginguk #foragingforfood #wildforaging #mushroomspotting #mushroomhunter #hongos #macrophotography #naturephotos #fantasticfungi #pilzebestimmen #magicmushrooms #naturephotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CnH3yPrMBdR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🇬🇧/🇩🇪/🇫🇷/🇪🇸/🇷🇺/🇵🇱🇨🇿/🇮🇹:⬇️ 🇬🇧: Velvet Shank / Enoki 🇩🇪: Gemeiner Samtfußrübling 🇫🇷: Flammulina velutipes 🇪🇸: Flammulina velutipes / Enoki 🇷🇺: Опёнок зимний 🇵🇱: Płomiennica zimowa 🇨🇿: Penízovka sametonohá 🇮🇹: Flammulina velutipes Scientific name: Flammulina velutipes 🍄: 👍🏻🤩🥳🤤- edible #pilze🍄 #mushrooms #mushroomseason #mushroompicking #mushroomlovers #associationofforagers #foraginguk #ukforaging #forage #foraged #foragedmushrooms #funghi #funghi https://www.instagram.com/p/CnAYajIsNOJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🇬🇧/🇩🇪/🇫🇷/🇪🇸/🇷🇺/🇵🇱🇨🇿/🇮🇹:⬇️ 🇬🇧: Velvet Shank / Enoki 🇩🇪: Gemeiner Samtfußrübling 🇫🇷: Flammulina velutipes 🇪🇸: Flammulina velutipes / Enoki 🇷🇺: Опёнок зимний 🇵🇱: Płomiennica zimowa 🇨🇿: Penízovka sametonohá 🇮🇹: Flammulina velutipes Scientific name: Flammulina velutipes 🍄: 👍🏻🤩🥳🤤- edible #pilze #pilzesammeln #mushroomlover #mushroomphotography #mushroomhunting #mushrooms #mushroom #foraging #foraginguk #foragingforfood #wildforaging #mushroomspotting #mushroomhunter #hongos #macrophotography #naturephotos #fantasticfungi #pilzebestimmen #magicmushrooms #naturephotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CnAFPeYsGY-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Barnet, London, UK, December 2018

Velvet shanks (Flammulina velutipes)

Winter arriving means the very first velvet shanks, an excellent edible, have been poking their heads out! I left these small specimens, as they didn’t seem worth collecting, and they’ll often grow gregariously to cover entire logs, so I’ll check back in a week or two.