June is never a month to disappoint the Pennsylvania naturalist. Though the spring wildflowers have come and gone, the abundant sunshine, warmth, and plentiful rain will provide the perfect conditions for summer berries, greens, and mushrooms.
Speaking of our fungal friends…
Every year, right around the first or second week of June, I head to the coniferous forests in search of a particular medicinal mushroom — the hemlock reishi mushroom, or Ganoderma tsugae.
I’ve been drawn to this mushroom for several years — seeking it out in a variety of locations — though the exact reason I struggle to describe in words.
Perhaps it’s the beauty to which I’m drawn, with its lacquered hues of yellows, oranges, and reds. Or maybe it’s the way this mushroom makes me feel internally, knowing that ample research exists to support its medicinal benefits.
Whatever the true reason, Ganoderma tsugae remains one of my favorite mushrooms to seek out and harvest, and I continue to be humbled — year after year — by its splendor.
If you are interested in learning more about the hemlock reishi mushroom, I encourage you to check out a brand new video I created.
In it, I discuss the habitat, key identification characteristics, and medicinal benefits of this remarkable medicinal mushroom.
Enjoy!