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Fall Spores LbNA #36223 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Oct 21, 2007
Location:
City:Portland
County:Multnomah
State:Oregon
Boxes:1
Planted by:bedlamite9
Found by: Maiden1974
Last found:Mar 28, 2008
Status:FF
Last edited:Oct 21, 2007
Fall is the time for making mushroom spore prints, and, true to the season, I have been seeing little mushrooms springing up all over town. This letterbox celebrates this fun fall activity, which is a combination of science and art.

To make your own mushroom spore print follow these simple instructions:

Remove the stem by cutting it where it meets the cap.
Put the cap on a piece of paper, gills facing down.
Cover the paper and cap with a bowl or tub of some sort (I generally use a small yogurt container) - to maintain the humidity around the cap.
Leave it for a few hours or overnight and then remove the tub and cap.

You can spray your spore print with a varnish or fixative to preserve it.

Note that different mushrooms have different colored spores. Some mushrooms have white spores and will show up only on dark paper. Others have dark brown or black spores and will show up best on white or light colored paper. Experiment to see what works best with the different kinds of mushrooms you collect.

Please use caution when handling mushrooms. Mushrooms can be poisonous, and since I am no expert, my general rule is to assume that the ones I find are poisonous. Wash your hands and use common sense.

To the letterbox:
This letterbox is located in a 90 acre SW Portland Park, located near Multnomah village. At the park, you should begin your search at the Rocky Benevento ball field, named for the Beaver's groundskeeper during the 1950's. Walk out toward right field and out of the ball park. Walk around the edge of the "island" of overgrown flora and turn left to skirt this wild growth area on the far side. Notice all the little mushrooms (perfect for making tiny spore prints) growing the grass around your feet. About halfway along, you will find a short path that runs through the middle. To the right is a tall tree. The fall spores letterbox is hiding behind this tree.

Hide it better than you found it.
First finder prize!