THE ENCHANTED NATURE NEWSLETTER
Issue 49
June 2025
Greetings Enchanted Nature Community
We hope that you are enjoying the verdant vernal vibes of nature.
Please enjoy the latest edition of
The Enchanted Nature Newsletter.
Nature's Blueprint
"We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value
no matter what their color." — Maya Angelou
On May 22nd, we celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity. There is profound wisdom found in nature’s design, where diversity isn’t just tolerated but essential; where balance ensures survival, and where every element, no matter how small, plays a vital role.
In thriving ecosystems, nothing exists in isolation or superiority. Nature reminds us that strength lies in variety and harmony grows when all are respected and included.
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.
Eileen Feim shared some fantastic photos this month. Thank you Eileen.
Below we see some pics of Trichaptum biforme.
We see in the second photo why the common name of this mushroom is
Purple Tooth or Violet-Toothed Polypore
The mushrooms below appear to be some species of Russula.
Worldwide there are about 750 known species in the Russula genus.
There are so many species that many mycologists will identify
Russulas (also known as Brittlegills) as a JAR. This acronym stands for
"Just Another Russula"
Below we have a Crested Coral Mushroom (Clavulina cristata)
This appears to be Raspberry Slime Mold (Dictydiaethalium plumbeum)
Cory Egger submitted some beautiful pics of fungi.
This trio is hard to identify. They look to be from the Agrocybe genus but there are
many, many mushrooms that look similar. There is another acronym that mycologists use,
L.B.M. which stands for "Little Brown Mushroom"
Below are are mushrooms known as Dryad's Saddle or Pheasant Back.
The taxonomic name is Cerioporus squamosus
Susan Miller sent this photo of what looks like Cedar Apple Rust.
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
Enchanted Nature is expanding into mushroom cultivation.
Below is our grow it yourself kit with Blue Oyster mushrooms.
You can find these bags of fungal fun at The Necessary Mercantile.
Below is a beginning mycelium.
What a beautiful pattern.
In nature, we often find shapes and patterns repeating themselves.
In the illustrations below, we see that mycelium mimics neural networks, root systems, our circulatory system, waterways, and many other patterns in
nature like tree branches and lichens.
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and ferns are putting on an enchanting show.
Diversity:
Nature's Necessity
Biodiversity is the foundation upon which healthy ecosystems are built. From the smallest microorganism to the largest mammal, every species plays a role in maintaining the balance of life. Diverse ecosystems are more resilient, better able to recover from environmental stresses like disease, climate shifts, and natural disasters. As naturalist and author Rachel Carson once said, “In nature nothing exists alone.” This interconnectedness underscores the importance of preserving a wide range of species—not just for their intrinsic value but for the services they provide, such as pollination, water purification, and soil regeneration.
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 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.
IT'S ALWAYS MUSHROOM SEASON Are you ready?
Join us for the next introduction to
Mushroom Foraging Class
Sunday, June 29, 2025, 11-4pm
Interested in the health effects of fungi?
Enjoy our new Medicinal Mushroom Workshop
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
Diversity
There is something deeply comforting in the wild disorder of a meadow; where thistle grows beside clover, and no two leaves share quite the same shade of green. It is not chaos, but harmony in complexity, each living thing adding its voice to a larger, wordless song. Humanity, too, is like this: a tapestry of countless colors, languages, shapes, and dreams. ‘See how we thrive together,’ the earth seems to whisper; ‘not in sameness, but in shared space.’
And in that, there is beauty beyond design.
Honor diversity...It's nature's oldest wisdom.
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.