Can you identify my plant/mushroom/tree/etc.?
Due to time constraints, I do not answer mushroom and plant ID requests. If you are seeking to have your mushroom or plant identified, here are a few options.
- Join your local mushroom or botanical club.
- Join one of the many mushroom or plant identification groups on Facebook.
- Purchase a few good field guides and practice keying out specimens as you find them.
- Consider these words by Rainer Maria Rilke: “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” In other words, be okay with not knowing the answer.
What books and/or field guides do you recommend?
The best books are those that are specific to your region. Without knowing where you live, it’s difficult to make specific recommendations. However, I can make a few general suggestions. For mushrooms, I recommend books by David Arora, Tim Baroni, Alan & Arleen Bessette, Gary Lincoff, Roger Phillips, William Roody, and Walt Sturgeon.
For plants, I recommend Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. If you are specifically interested in plant foraging resources, I recommend books by Samuel Thayer.
What apps do you recommend?
I have never used a single app to identify a plant or mushroom, therefore I cannot recommend any.
How do I find a local mushroom club?
A list of NAMA-affiliated clubs and societies can be found here. Mushroom clubs and societies that are not affiliated with NAMA also exist. To find these organizations, I recommend using an online search engine.
Do you lead private walks?
I accept a limited number of property consults throughout the year. If you are interested in hiring me (Adam) as your guide, feel free to contact me.
Can you recommend a plant or mushroom for my specific illness?
Health issues can be difficult to address without knowing the particulars of a given situation. Due to time constraints and the challenges involved with online consultations, I do not offer one-on-one health advice.
How do you deal with ticks?
My thoughts on this topic are outlined in this video.