Tim’s Mushrooms

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

111Specimens
501Photographs
9Walks
3Sites
54Still open

Every mushroom here was photographed where it stood, then written up with what can honestly be said about it — and what could not be, without a spore print or a look at the stipe base. 54 of 111 entries are still unidentified, and they say so.

Each walk carries the observed rainfall and humidity from the days leading up to it. That turns out to be the most useful thing in the guide: a soaking followed by warm, rain-free days is what produces a flush, and the record now covers enough walks to start seeing it.

Latest walk

Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary — Saturday, 8 August 2026. 48 specimens in 9:11–11:10 AM EDT.

Common puffball — moss cushionCommon puffball — moss cushionLycoperdon perlatum · Aug 8HighCommon puffballs in litterCommon puffballs in litterLycoperdon perlatum · Aug 8Moderate–highYellow jelly fungusYellow jelly fungusDacrymyces or Tremella · Aug 8Moderate–highTurkey tail on the fallen logTurkey tail on the fallen logTrametes versicolor · Aug 8Moderate–highViolet agarics on a mossy decaying logViolet agarics on a mossy decaying logCortinarius or Laccaria · Aug 8ModerateRed-capped bolete with yellow poresRed-capped bolete with yellow poresBoletaceae · Aug 8ModerateLarge violet agaric by a fallen logLarge violet agaric by a fallen logCortinarius or Laccaria · Aug 8ModerateOrange-capped boleteOrange-capped boleteLeccinum sp. · Aug 8Moderate

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 · Aug 6HighFly 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 · Nov 27HighOrange-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 31Moderate–highCinnabar polypore on a stickCinnabar polypore on a stickPycnoporus cinnabarinus · Aug 6High

Start here

All specimens 111 records, grouped by taxon Browse by group Boletes, russulas, corts, polypores Walks 9 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.