THE ENCHANTED NATURE NEWSLETTER
Issue 50
July 2025
Greetings Enchanted Nature Community
We hope that you enjoy some time with your loved ones
enjoying the enchantment of nature
over this holiday weekend.
The Enchanted Nature Newsletter.
Freedom's Responsibilty
"Total liberty for the wolves is death to the lambs."— Isaiah Berlin
As we celebrate American history, watching fireworks and honoring those who stood up against the tyranny of King George’s Britain, it’s a fitting time to reflect not only on the courage of the past, but also on the meaning of freedom today.
We live in a country that places great value on individual liberty. The founding of the United States was a declaration that people have a right to self-determination and dignity. But in the present moment, we face a difficult truth, freedom is not simple. It is not limitless. It does not exist in a vacuum.
There is a growing tension between individual convenience, comfort and collective responsibility.
Nowhere is that more evident than in how we treat the planet. It’s easy to criticize powerful polluters, mega-sized corporations, or litterbugs. The truth is that every time we start a vehicle, mow the lawn, or flip a light switch on, we participate in a system that generates pollution. No one in America escapes this reality.
Some folks take this a step further, insisting that their “freedom” means being able to assault public peace with vehicles literally louder than jet engines. Others reject even basic norms of decency, tossing trash out their car windows, leaving broken bottles on trails, or scoffing at any suggestion of limits.
This isn’t freedom! It’s recklessness disguised as liberty.
This isn’t meant to be discouraging, negative or preachy. Most of us understand the delicate balance between our daily choices and the larger world we all inhabit. We don’t throw trash into rivers. We don’t flick cigarette butts out of our windows. We aspire, in our own imperfect ways, to live with care.
The question we must continue asking is this: how can we move forward together, building a vision of freedom that includes responsibility, not just for ourselves, but for each other and the generations to come?
True freedom is not the right to do whatever we want, regardless of consequence. Real freedom is the ability to live in a just, clean, and thriving world and to ensure the same sustainable possibility for others.
It means pushing back against greed, short-sightedness, and self-interest
when they threaten the common good.
This July, let's not only celebrate the founding ideals of liberty and independence. Let us renew our commitment to stewardship, empathy, and shared responsibility. That is how we truly honor those who fought for freedom; preserving it in a way that uplifts EVERY American.
From Our Readers
We sincerely appreciate your contributions!
Your photos make The Enchanted Nature Newsletter more interesting for the entire Enchanted Nature community.
If any of you see anything enchanting in nature, take a picture and please send it along.
Jack Wilson shared some beautiful photos this month.
Below we see an up close and personal pic of Strangalepta abbreviata
commonly known as the Flower Long Horn Beetle perched on an Oxeye Daisy.
What is particularly interesting about the taxonomy of this beetle is that there is
only one species in the genus. It currently has an entire genus of its own!
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Below, we are looking at a lovely wildflower known by many common names: Maiden's Tears, Cowbell and Bladder Campion. The scientific name is Silene vulgaris.
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This is a striking fungi known as Crested Coral Fungus or
Golden Spindles (Clavulinopsis fusiformis).
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Another lovely and delicious fungi known as the
Crown Tipped Coral Fungus (Artomyces pyxidatus)
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Thank you for sharing your pics with the Enchanted Nature Community Jack!
Phil Crilley submitted some cool fungal photos.
The pic below appears to be an immature Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
which is known for it's common appearance
in children's books and many other classic media.
Below, we believe that this is the mushroom known as
Old Man of the Woods (Strobilomyces strobilaceus).
It is often difficult to properly identify mushrooms by a photograph.
Many species are very similar in appearance and each species can
be as diverse in its appearances as humankind.
Wendy Whitlow has been finding herself enchanted by nature
and submitted some lovely photos this month.
Below we see a newly emerging Destroying Angel (Amanita bisorigera).
While this mushroom can be lethal to humans, many animals have no problem eating it.
What's particularly interesting in this photo is the soil and stones that this mushroom
pushed up through. The hydraulic power of mushrooms is amazing.
Wendy found her first Chanterelle!
The miniature landscape in this photo is very attractive.
The stones and moss are topped off with an acorn cap in the foreground.
Here is a lovely close up of delicately beautiful Ghost PIpes (Monotropa uniflora).
In forest folklore and plant mythology, the ghost pipe, which is also called the corpse plant, is believed to be a spiritual intermediary, emerging from the forest floor
like a pale specter to bridge the realms of the living and the dead.
This plant cannot carry out photosynthesis and relies on its mycelial buddies for nourishment.
Awesome pics Wendy! Thanks for sharing with the community.
Eileen Feim sent some fun nature pics this month.
Below we have a funga with a vile name:
Dog Vomit Fungus (Fuligo septica).
It is a slime mold that, thanks to a unique yellow pigment called
fuligorubin, can thrive in toxic environments that would kill most organisms.
These mushrooms are Stinkhorns. As the name implies, they have a malodorous fragrance
that attracts flies and other wildlife that is attracted to rotting flesh.
We know that the overturned tree above is a conifer because Dyer’s Polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii) commonly grows at the base of conifers and causes a brown rot in the wood.
It is prized by natural dyers for producing a range of colors, from golden yellow
to deep green, depending on the fixative and fiber used.
Thank you for the wonderful photos Eileen.
Thank you for your submissions! May the forest be with you.
Remember, if you can't get enough fungal fun,
Check out the articles at the
Please send us your pics and queries:
adventures@enchantednaturetours.com
You can also text your pics & questions to (540) 324-8778.
From The Writers
Below are what we believe to be a couple of amorous Eastern Leaf-Footed Bugs (Leptoglossus phyllopus) on a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
I did apologize to them after snapping the pic for interrupting their "moment".
Wildflowers have inspired poetry, music and paintings.
It is not hard to be inspired while standing amongst them.
Re-Enchantment
By: Victoria Vacher
We had occasion to travel to Massachusetts this past weekend and were overwhelmed; not just by the number of people and cars, but by the weight of pollution being created and hanging in the air. It was a stark reminder of how much our environment is struggling under the pressure of modern life.
July is the month America celebrates its independence, but as I sat with what I experienced, I couldn’t stop thinking about our deeper need for interdependence - on one another, and
especially on the natural world.
We are all part of a greater whole, sharing this planet. Yet many of us have lost something vital: the
reverence and respect for nature that is essential to our collective survival. I searched for an
English word to describe this disconnection/loss but could not find one. The closest word I
could find was disenchantment. It captures the feeling perfectly, "a fading of wonder, a
forgetting of our place in the web of life".
Ironically, that is exactly why we started Enchanted Nature, to help people fall in love with
nature again. We know that people won’t protect what they don’t understand and they rarely
cherish or love what they feel no connection to.
There was a time when plants were honored-for food, for medicine, for life. Nature was sacred.
Nature was essential for life. With the invention of modern conveniences,
we have replaced reliance with detachment. In doing so, we’ve severed the very bond that once ensured our survival. Many have reduced nature to something to make profit from.
Now more than ever in the planet's history, we must rekindle that bond. Reconnecting with
nature isn’t just beautiful - it is essential. Earth is not something separate or outside of us. It is
our home, our partner, our shared responsibility!
May this celebration of independence remind us of our interdependence with the natural
world. Let’s begin to actively re-enchant our relationship with the natural world. To survive we must
protect and repair what we have done to our planet.
Take a stance to profess your love for our world to friends, family and everyone you meet. The smallest actions can create big changes! Begin the re-enchantment process in your community!!!
Human well-being is inextricably tied to the health of the natural world. A rich diversity of plants and animals supports food security, provides medicinal resources, and fuels countless industries. Yet, biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate due to habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. Renowned biologist E.O. Wilson famously warned, “The loss of biodiversity is the most important process of environmental destruction. The worst thing that can happen…is not energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government. As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired within a few generations. The one process ongoing…that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats.”
Preserving biodiversity isn’t just an ethical responsibility, it’s a practical necessity.
Nature thrives on variety, and so do we.
By protecting wild places, restoring native species, and embracing sustainable practices, we will not only ensure the survival of other species but also safeguard our own future.
In celebrating and protecting the vast tapestry of life,
we deepen our understanding of the world and our place within it.
Diversity in nature and humanity is not just beautiful, IT IS ESSENTIAL!
Enchanted Nature News
Todd Messegee, professor at Bridgewater College and CEO of Run Cat Run Media, along with his wife/producer/realtor Lisa Messegee attended one of our mushroom classes. Todd filmed some of the class and together they created a short film about Enchanted Nature. They also got a behind the scenes exclusive.
Things are GROWING well!
Enchanted Nature's Fresh Mushrooms
and grow at home kits are now available at
The Necessary Mercantile in Churchville, VA
Enchanted Nature Mushroom Extracts:
Small batch, hand made, full spectrum
extracts made with whole fruiting bodies.
We source, forage or grow the mushrooms locally.
Our extracts can be purchased at:
The Necessary Mercantile, The Cheese Shop, Polyface Farms or
you can order on The Enchanted Nature Trading Post
Healthy Planet=Healthy You
Caring for the Earth means caring for yourself.
Clean air, fresh water, and nutrient-rich soil nourish our bodies
just as much as they sustain ecosystems. When we choose sustainable habits,
like eating local, reducing waste, and protecting nature,
we’re not just helping the planet thrive; we’re investing in our own health and future.
Findings reported in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, suggest that keeping a few snapshots of greenery around yourself might be beneficial. When participants viewed the natural images in the experiment, their stress levels lowered, thanks to the activation of their parasympathetic nervous system – which controls certain rest functions. "Viewing green scenes may thus be particularly effective in supporting relaxation and recovery after experiencing a stressful period and thereby could serve as an opportunity for micro-restorative experiences and a promising tool in preventing chronic stress and stress-related diseases."
Take a deep breath, hold it, and let it out slowly as you relax.
NATURE IS CALLING, WILL YOU ANSWER
There are many proven health benefits to spending time in nature. It has also been proven that just looking at images of nature can provide multiple health benefits including: reducing depression, speeding healing, improving your immune system, preventing dementia, improving your mood, and increasing happiness. We plan on ending each newsletter with a short video of a natural scene. Hopefully the videos will provide you with some of the benefits listed above.
