Each May, thousands of people flock from all corners of the state to participate in northern Michigan's annual rite of spring, the wild mushroom pursuit. Foraging the highly prized morel mushroom is a pastime for some and a passionate quest for others. Whichever category you fall into, your trek into the awakening forest is certain to nourish your spirit and provide relaxing outdoor recreation. May is the month of the mushroom, but emergence of the fungi depends on Mother Nature. Morels seem to pop magically from the fertile forest floor following warm spring days and misty nights.
Morels are a creamy tan color, but can also be shades of brown and black.
Growing two to four inches high, they are most often found in mixed stands of aspen, maple and birch, old apple orchards and along roadsides or power lines. The elusive tidbits are frequently lodged beneath leaves, away from the light, making them difficult to spot. It's a good idea to take along an experienced mushroomer on your maiden hunt. Foraging veterans can show you how to recognize good hunting ground, how to find the ever-elusive morel amidst its leafy bed and how to distinguish the true morel from the poisonous false morel. It is imperative that collectors learn to make the distinction between the two mushrooms.