Mushroom Walk

Mushroom Walk

Foraging for Fungi at the Northlake Nature Center

By Alexandra Kennon

John Mansfield has been a wild mushroom enthusiast since long before foraging's pandemic-induced surge of popularity and TikTok fame. He’s studied the fungi for over forty years, in fact—making him a natural choice to lead the Northlake Nature Center’s “Mushroom Walk” on a recent Saturday morning in May.

Before the presentation began, Northlake Nature Center’s Executive Director Rue McNeill introduced Mansfield and explained a bit about Northlake. The independently-run nonprofit nature preserve is made up of four hundred acres of ancient pine and hardwood forests, bordered on the west side by Bayou Castine and intersected by a marsh—all teeming with native flora and fauna. Those who walk the system of pathways at Northlake can experience four different ecosystems, including hardwood forest, pine-hardwood forest, pine savanna, and pond-swamp. It’s funded by donations and upkept by volunteers—who come out for weekly “Nature Walk and Titivation” events, which feature a nature stroll and trail-trimming session.

With over four decades of experience in research and foraging, Mansfield’s knowledge is vast—and includes an awareness of what he doesn’t know for certain, or isn’t willing to risk. He explained that the way mushrooms are grouped is much like plants such as roses or azaleas that come in different varieties of species. We learned that the unassuming-looking Amanitaceae family is responsible for ninety percent of mushroom poisonings, and that even delicious chanterelles have a deadly doppelgänger. Mushroom mycelium was credited for its use as an alternative to plastic, and another mushroom enthusiast in attendance chimed in that mats made of oyster mushrooms are used to soak up oil spills.

Shortly thereafter, the presentation came to a close, and Mansfield looked around at the increasingly-excited, now somewhat-fidgety group: “Now who wants to go looking for mushrooms?”

Armed with our new fungi knowledge, plastic knives, and paper bags, we were off; the group dispersing in various directions down the boardwalk paths. I headed back across the parking lot toward the canoe launch area, which seemed as promising a place as any to come upon mushrooms. I joined a couple from North Carolina who was visiting their Mandeville-based daughter and a pair of teenaged sisters with their parents. Our eyes would have been drawn beyond the boardwalk to the beauty of the surrounding wildlife, regardless, but our quest gave us a boost in motivation. Even as we chatted, our eyes carefully scanned along the forest floor, up tree trunks, and along fallen logs, ready to hone in on a sneaky spore-bearer.

Just as I thought the warm weather might not yield any of us much luck, one of the teenagers yelled from a few yards away: “We found one!” I wondered if they had been watching foraging videos on TikTok as the rest of our group excitedly clamored over to check out the find. She brandished a gnarled-looking mushroom with a neon orange cap that some animal had clearly taken a bite out of. I wondered how that critter was doing as we all marveled at the specimen.

A short time later, when our group had a modest-but-varied few mushrooms among us, we headed back toward the Pavilion with our spore spoils in tow. There, we and the other foragers laid out our finds on a long table, and Mansfield helped us identify them utilizing the two reference books he’d suggested — his “old standby” the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mushrooms and a newer release, Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast States. Collectively, the group had found turkey tails, oyster mushrooms, some old chanterelles, and an orange bully. An older lady excitedly placed an oyster mushroom she found in the palm of my hand. “If you take that home and sauté it in some butter, it’ll taste just like seafood!” After a bit more excited chatter, the group said goodbye and moseyed back down the boardwalk to our cars, having practiced a new skill and spent a pleasant morning immersed in nature.

Northlake is hosting the following events in June:

June 1, June 8, and June 22: “Nature Walk and Titivation”—Walk the trails and help to keep them groomed. Loppers available on a limited basis. 5:30 pm. Free.

June 3, June 11, and June 17: "Storywalk"—Explore the trails at Northlake Nature Center while reading interactive stories. Reservations required. 6 pm. $5; free for members.

June 14: "Kundalini Yoga" with Sally Dunn—Reservations required. 1 pm. $5; free for members.

June 25: "Walk in the Woods—Medicinal Plants with Kelly McGee and Plant I.D. with Rue McNeill"—Reservations required. 9 am. $5; free for members.

June 26: "Dog Wag and Walk"—Reservations required. 8 am. $5; free for members.

June 28: “Bicycling the Back Trails” and “Tips to Trail Riding” with The Bike Path owner, David Moeller. Helmet required, mountain bike or wide tires and bike light recommended. Reservations required. 6 pm. $5; free for members.