Saturday's May 7th walk was at the California Hill Multiple Use area in Putnam County adjacent to the vacation home of Morrs, Beverly and Wanda. A group of about 20 people showed up mainly for the morels. We found all three of the most common species of morels in our region - half-free morels (morchella semi-libera), black morels (Morchella elata), and the yellow morel (Morchella esculenta). On average, the most commonly found were black morels. The most exciting fungi for me was the blue-staining Caloscypha fulgens discovered by Peter. Other fungi included a bumper crop of Gyromitra korfii, Coprinellus micaceus, Entoloma vernum, Lentinus torulosus, Exidia glandulosa, Pleuteus cervinus, Daldinia concentrica, Exidia recisa, Trechispora vaga and remnants of last year's polypores and parchments (Trichaptum biforme, Hydnochaete rubiginosa, Hyndnochaete olicaceum, Stereum commune, Stereum ostrea.)

Sunday's walk at Tallman State Park drew, as usual, close to forty people. This venue is always our most popular of the year. George was our walk leader. Of the various morel species, only the yellows (Morchella esculenta) were found. Common to both weekend walks, the morels were almost exclusively under or adjacent to Tulip Poplars. The other mushroom in plentiful supply was Peziza badio-confusa. Additional fungi included several unidentified genera of gilled mushrooms growing under rotting logs, as well as Gyromitra korfii, Kretzschmaria deusta (Ustulina deusta), Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Stereum commune, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum ostrea, Trichaptum biforme, Psathyrella piluliformis, Coprinellus micaceus, Armillaria mellea rhizomorphs, Phanerochaete chrysorhiza, Pleurocebella compressa, Exidia recisa and a tiny Mycena sp.