THE ENCHANTED NATURE NEWSLETTER
Issue 43
October 2024
Good Day Enchanted Nature Community
We hope that you're well and being enchanted by nature's
wonder. Enjoy our latest issue of
The Enchanted Nature Newsletter.
The Awe of Autumn
“Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and
wander on this their only chance to soar.”
Delia Owens - Where the Crawdads Sing
Greetings Enchanted Nature Community,
I recently read an anonymous quote that said, "The weather just went from 90 to 55. It must have seen a state trooper". Outdoor conditions are dynamic and ever changing; especially at this time of year. Whether it is the temperature, the wind, the rain, or the many other elements, we all have our own opinion for ideal conditions. John Ruskin, a 19th century English writer said, "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather". While we do occasionally find the weather inconvenient, damaging and even frightening, for increased amounts of joy in our lives, we need to look for the good in everything...including the weather.
From Our Readers
We appreciate your contributions!
Your photos make The Enchanted Nature Newsletter
more interesting for the entire community.
If any of you see anything enchanting in nature, take a picture and please send it along.
Eileen Feim sent a pic of a crust fungus turning dead wood into life giving soil.
Fungi are the interface between death and rebirth.
Eventually life will spring from what is essentially "dead" material.
Below we find (what we believe to be) Leccinellum rugosiceps. These mushrooms are commonly called the Wrinkled Boletes. Despite the rotting log being behind it, this mushroom is sprouting from the soil. Wrinkled Boletes are mycorrhizal, partnering most often with Oak trees.
Thank you for the fung-tastic pics this month Eileen!
Below , Cory Egger submitted a couple photos of what appear to be Clavariadelphus truncatus; commonly called the Truncated Club mushroom. The first photo is just stunning with the mushroom sprouting among light green moss and Mountain Laurel leaves. The contrasting brown of exposed soil and fallen leaves make a beautiful composition. Thank you for the photos Cory!
Thank you for your submissions!
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
Woodland cyclamen are fascinating for their beautiful, heart-shaped leaves with intricate patterns, resilience in shaded, forested environments, and their unique ability to attract ants that help disperse their seeds.
The peak of autumn foliage has passed, leaving a vibrant blanket of fallen leaves carpeting the forest floor, whispering softly with each gust of wind.
The First
Enchanted Mushroom Festival
By: Victoria and Christopher Vacher
We want to take a break from our medicinal mushroom series to update the community about
THE ENCHANTED MUSHROOM FESTIVAL
IT WAS A "FUNG-TASTIC" DAY!!! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT WAS ABLE TO ATTEND!!!
After a year of preparations...WE...which includes an army of dedicated industrious volunteers, generous supporters, local businesses, cooperating parishes in the village of Churchville, amazing artisans, and farmers were able to make
THE INAUGURAL ENCHANTED MUSHROOM FESTIVAL AN ABSOLUTE SUCCESS!
We conservatively estimate that 1,500 - 2,000 fungal friends attended the festival. You all far exceeded our expectations.
The festival took place at The Churchville Community Park and in the Churchville Community Center with cooperating businesses nearby. The Churchville Public Library, the parishes within the village, and the Churchville Fire and Rescue allowed us to use their parking. It was one of the biggest days that Churchville has seen in a very long time.
The Churchville Community Center had an informative indoor exhibit including multiple mushrooms
thanks to many helpful folks and the heavy rains that occurred after a long drought.:
There was an amazing array of vendors in the outdoor market which included: crafts, farmers, artisans, food /beverage trucks, and The Necessary Mercantile providing gifts, comestibles, exhibits, demonstrations, activities and something for everyone.
Children enjoyed free face-painting, mushroom ring toss, (hidden wooden) mushroom hunting, and because of the unusually warm weather, some waded in the creek.
Musical entertainment was provided by The Flutes of Shenandoah and Michael Hull.
Presentations were given by Solo MEDIC, Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia, and Enchanted Nature.
The Necessary Mercantile warmly greeted many festival goers, provided exhibits and Jack entertainingly educated curious customers about mycology, geology, lichens, and other interesting topics.
It was a fantastic event with photo ops, lots of smiling faces and laughter.
People came from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington DC, Norfolk , Virginia Beach, Richmond,
and from all over The Shenandoah Valley. Many from the Valley traveled more than an hour to attend.
At the conclusion of The Enchanted Mushroom Festival, we policed the properties and parking areas and
found only four pieces of litter. That says it all. Mushroom People Are Good People!
Thank you all again for a wonderful festival.
Enchanted Nature News
YES!!!!!! THERE WILL BE AN
ENCHANTED MUSROOM FESTIVAL 2025
Everyone is excited for next year.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 4th, 2025
and stay tuned for details.
We are seeking vendors, food trucks, volunteers, donations, and entertainers.
If you are interested in being part of the festival, please contact us.
Enchanted Nature Mushroom Extracts Are Now Available.
Our extracts can be purchased at:
You can also order online through our Trading Post
It's always mushroom season:
November classes are full
Our next mushroom class will be held on
Sunday, January 19, 11-3 at The Necessary Mercantile.
If you have any nature, gardening, or horticultural questions or comments, feel free to send them to adventures@enchantednaturetours.com
Tranquility
With the election, so much work to do, a world that has so many problems, and
noise constantly inundating us, it can be hard to find tranquility.
Hopefully the video below helps
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.
If you're ready to explore the forest,
come out for an adventure with us
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.
Stay safe and enjoy nature
If you haven't taken the time to explore our website, please do.
There are a lot of free educational resources to enjoy
If you wish to unsubscribe,
simply drop us an email at
Adventures@EnchantedNatureTours.com
with the word, "unsubscribe"
