Making Spore Prints from Mushrooms

On the way home from church I spotted a fairy ring of mushrooms I believe are Chlorophyllum molybdites.

I stopped the car and turned around to take a closer look. There was a pretty good patch going on a mowed and empty lot.

Since I couldn't carry the delicate things and drive at the same time, I handed three of them to my helpful wife to hold until we got home.

When we got home I showed the children how to make spore prints. If you've never made them before, it's a fun exercise as well as being very helpful in identifying your mushroom's species.

Step 1: Pick Some Mushrooms

This is easy and fun. Just don't eat them because death.

Step 2: Get Some Paper

Take it from Dad's printer. He won't care.

Step 3: Cut Off the Stems

This is important. If you don't do it, your spore prints will look blurry and stupid.

Here - do this:

Step 4: Lay the Caps on Your Paper

Spore-side down, of course.

Leave them alone for some hours, preferably overnight.

Step 5: Reveal Your (Well... God's) Art!

Spray the prints with some sort of a fixative if you intend on framing them. They smudge very easily.

Alternately, you can print on glass... then scrape the spores off and spread them around your yard to start new mushrooms. I also toss the mushrooms I find right into the mulch of my food forest.

Have fun!