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Snapshot

Outdoors: Morel Mushroom Foraging Tips, ODNR Week 3 Bloom Report
​Science: Morel Life Cycle, Red Spotted Newt Red Efts
​Photography: Top Tips for Unique Photos: Conditions and Perspectives
​Erratic: Naptime

Outdoors

Morels (When)

A North American Mycological Association research study found that the best predictor for morel emergence is the accumulation of soil degree days above freezing. It typically needs to total over 410°F above freezing (32°F) before morels emerge. We can remove the "above freezing" step by adding 640 (20 days x 32°F) to the 410.

Just add the last 20 days' soil temperatures and compare your total to 1,050. If you're at or approaching 1,050 it's time to go hunting! Here at my place, we're at 1,020 as of April 10th. You can check soil temperature reporting sites like this one.

You can also view recent sightings in map form at thegreatmorel.com to see when they're being found in your area. Sightings are based on zip code or town name—not precise GPS locations—so secret spots remain undisclosed.

Morels (Where)

Eastern morels are usually found in woodlands (with some exceptions) near certain tree species. They form a symbiotic relationship with trees, where the mycelium (their root-like network) lives alongside tree roots, benefitting both.

In my area, common symbiotic trees include American elm (Ulmus americana), red elm (Ulmus rubra), apple (Malus spp.), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), ash (Fraxinus spp.), and Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides).

Learn to identify these trees to improve your chances of finding morels. Research which species are commonly associated with morels in your area and understand their habitat preferences. And if you really want to find new patches, commit to spending some real time in the woods looking.

Spring Wildflowers

While mushroom hunting, check out some spring wildflowers too. Here's Ohio DNR's Week 3 Bloom Report. Grab some wild ramps if you happen upon some!

Science

Morel Regeneration

One age-old question is whether it matters if you pick or pinch off the stems—some believe leaving the stem base increases future yields. Not really. The "mushrooms" are fruiting bodies from a broader underground mycelium. Leaving the stem base doesn't make much difference. However, the white bits at the bottom can form new mycelium if relocated properly. This post by Casey Shawver explains how you can help encourage regeneration.

Morel Colors, Clades & Species

Historically, morels have been named by color—black, gray, yellow, etc. In the East, they fall into two clades (groups): yellow and black, with several species in each group.

Gray morels are actually a yellow species (Morchella cryptica) that starts gray and matures to yellow. The half-free morels (Morchella punctipes), with a smaller cap attached partway down the stem, belong to the black clade. Morchella americana, the most widespread, is part of the yellow group and grows with many different tree species.

The Red Eft

I've wanted to find a red eft for many years. I haven't exactly spent days on end looking for one so not surprising it took a while. I stumbled upon one on a rainy day in southeast Ohio last week.

Red efts are the juvenile stage of the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), Ohio's only native newt. They're among the most striking creatures in eastern forests. Adults lay eggs in ponds, pools, wetlands, or streams; the larvae emerge and transform into terrestrial red efts.

Red efts are mostly nocturnal but can be seen on rainy, humid days. Their bright color warns predators of the toxins in their skin, allowing them to wander safely. After a couple of years, the red eft returns to the water, transforming into an aquatic adult—olive green with red spots and a vertically flattened tail for swimming. Here's a map of their range, with colors representing four subspecies.

Photography

What are the best ways to get photos that are unique? Let's face it, millions of people have been to that same beach, that same vacation spot, and they're all snapping pics with their smart phones, right? I'm sure you don't care how many likes your social media post gets but at the same time you still want to get some photos that do justice to the experience.

A more expensive camera probably won't do it. Getting to know the camera you have will help, especially if you get it out of the "auto" mode(s). But I have a few tips that will drastically improve your photos without you needing to learn anything additional.

These tips involve getting away from the norm. The vast majority of photos are taken in the middle of the day from 4 or 5 feet off the ground. Want more interesting photos? Don't do that.

1. Take the photo from a perspective that isn't normal. You'll hear photographers say "get low" or "get closer" and both of these tactics work. But there are other ways to get new perspectives too. Be creative. Take the picture through a hole in something (i.e., frame within a frame), climb up high and shoot down. Just get the camera somewhere besides 4 to 5 feet off the ground and you'll have something more unique than the majority of photos out there.
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2. Capture your subject in unique conditions. The best landscape photographers (in my opinion) are atmospheric photographers more than landscape photographers. They chase weather and while they certainly have interesting subjects, it is the storm, fog, rain, haze, and similar phenomena that make their photos so interesting. Get out in some weather and your photos will be more interesting.
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3. Of course beautiful light and colorful skies help. Sunsets are crowded. Sunrises aren't. And sunrises often come with haze, fog, and other conditions that the average Joe and Jane aren't used to seeing because they're still at home drinking coffee...or sleeping. If you want to get something unique, get there at dawn. You won't be sorry and you can have a nap later. They're good for you.

Erratic

Speaking of naps, how long of an afternoon nap should you take to get the refreshment but not impact night-time sleep? According to NASA, 26 minutes. Sure, you can find recommendations for any length up to 90 minutes and it all depends on a whole heap of other factors....but generally speaking, aim for 30 minutes or less. Here's an article about it.

That's it for this week. Happy exploring!

Chad Kettlewell
Photographer & Ecologist
​chadkphotography.com​

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