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June’s Wild Edible: Curtis’s Puffball

On our land in Botetourt County, Virginia, this round, white mushroom typically begins appearing in late June and continues to do so through the rest of the summer.

May’s Mountain Wildflower: Smooth Solomon’s Seal

Because these plants cannot tolerate direct sunlight, you will not encounter the Solomon’s seals until the tree canopy has begun to leaf out.

May’s Wild Edible: White Jelly Snow Fungus

“Pass the fungus,” is not common dinnertime conversation in the Blue Ridge Mountains region, but that’s because folks perhaps have not heard of the white jelly snow fungus.

May’s Wild Edible: Gem-Studded Puffball

Numerous species of puffballs are native to the Blue Ridge, and certainly one of the most common ones is the dull-white gem-studded puffball.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Yellow-rumped Warbler

Affectionately called “butter-butt,” the yellow rump on this warbler is hard to miss!

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Curtis’s puffballs often grow in small clusters, typically in grassy, open areas.

June’s Wild Edible: Curtis’s Puffball

On our land in Botetourt County, Virginia, this round, white mushroom typically begins appearing in late June and continues to do so through the rest of the summer.
ca6fd290-2753-11f0-8efc-12163087a831-website_5-2025smoothsolomon_sseal--credt-Joe-Cook-and-Monica-Sheppard_1_

May’s Mountain Wildflower: Smooth Solomon’s Seal

Because these plants cannot tolerate direct sunlight, you will not encounter the Solomon’s seals until the tree canopy has begun to leaf out.
White jelly snow fungus growing in the author’s Botetourt County, Virginia woodlot.

May’s Wild Edible: White Jelly Snow Fungus

“Pass the fungus,” is not common dinnertime conversation in the Blue Ridge Mountains region, but that’s because folks perhaps have not heard of the white jelly snow fungus.
Gem-studded puffballs can be found growing by themselves or in clusters.

May’s Wild Edible: Gem-Studded Puffball

Numerous species of puffballs are native to the Blue Ridge, and certainly one of the most common ones is the dull-white gem-studded puffball.
931ea432-2047-11f0-b2b0-12163087a831-Yellow-rumped-Warbler---photo-by-Mike-Blevins

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Yellow-rumped Warbler

Affectionately called “butter-butt,” the yellow rump on this warbler is hard to miss!
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