Tim’s Mushrooms

A field guide to the fungi of central Massachusetts — and a record of the weather that preceded them.

171Specimens
949Photographs
12Walks
5Sites
76Unidentified

Photographed where found — some fruitbodies lifted for underside frames or collected for spore prints, and the entry says so when that happened — then written up with what can honestly be said, and what could not be without a print or a look at the stipe base. 76 of 171 entries are still unidentified, and they say so.

Each walk carries the observed rainfall and humidity from the days leading up to it. The pattern in this guide’s own records so far: a soaking, then warm rain-free days, precedes the best walks. 12 walks is not enough to call that a law — the walk pages carry the numbers, so the hypothesis can be watched.

Latest walk

Walker Pond Rd area — Thursday, 20 August 2026. 8 specimens in 11:28 AM–12:51 PM EDT.

Violet cap with purple gillsViolet cap with purple gillsCortinarius sp. · Aug 20High for genusOld man of the woods — weatheredOld man of the woods — weatheredStrobilomyces sp. · Aug 20High for genusViolet webcap with a bulbous baseViolet webcap with a bulbous baseCortinarius sp. · Aug 20High for genusOld man of the woods — stain sequenceOld man of the woods — stain sequenceStrobilomyces sp. · Aug 20High for genusHoney mushroom cluster, young and matureHoney mushroom cluster, young and matureArmillaria sp. (mellea group) · Aug 20High for genusCinnabar chanterelles in pine litterCinnabar chanterelles in pine littercf. Cantharellus cinnabarinus · Aug 20Moderate–highBrown suede bolete with unstaining fleshBrown suede bolete with unstaining fleshcf. Tylopilus · Aug 20ModerateRed-capped bolete with an ornamented stipeRed-capped bolete with an ornamented stipecf. Suillus · Aug 20Moderate

Some of the finds

Deep red bolete with reticulate stipeDeep red bolete with reticulate stipeBoletaceae · Aug 8ModerateOrange troop on a standing logOrange troop on a standing logUnidentified agaric · Aug 8Low–moderateBirch polyporeBirch polyporeFomitopsis betulina or Fomes fomentarius · Aug 6ModerateFly agaric buttonFly agaric buttonAmanita muscaria var. guessowii · Aug 1HighCommon puffball — moss cushionCommon puffball — moss cushionLycoperdon perlatum · Aug 8HighRose-red Russula on mossRose-red Russula on mossRussula sp. · Aug 1High for genusWitch's butter on a mossy logWitch's butter on a mossy logTremella mesenterica or Dacrymyces chrysospermus · Nov 27ModerateOrange-gilled bracket on a logOrange-gilled bracket on a logTapinella or Phyllotopsis · Aug 6ModerateTurkey tail on the fallen logTurkey tail on the fallen logTrametes versicolor · Aug 8Moderate–highEarthball, cut openEarthball, cut openScleroderma sp. · Aug 6HighViolet cortViolet cortCortinarius sp. · Jul 31ModerateCinnabar polypore on a stickCinnabar polypore on a stickPycnoporus cinnabarinus (= Trametes cinnabarina) · Aug 6High

Start here

All specimens 171 records, grouped by taxon Browse by group Boletes, brittlegills, corts, polypores Walks 12 outings with their weather Cleanup ledger What comes out of the woods

Nothing here is an edibility guide. Most entries are identified only to genus, and several cannot be separated from dangerous look-alikes. Never eat a wild mushroom on the basis of a photograph. More on that here.