Tell a Story for the Trees
Now that we know that trees talk too, what are they saying and thinking? Write a story from a tree’s point of view using one or a few of the questions below (or any you come up with too!). Send us a copy of your story!
- Where does the tree live?
- Forest, yard, right of way, parking lot?
- Who are the tree’s friends?
- Birds, squirrels, other trees, forest animals, mycelium, you?
- Who are not the tree’s friends?
- Invasive plants and bugs like ivy or borer beatle?
- How close are other trees?
- Within talking distance or do the trees have to shout to talk?
Some Mycorrhizal Mushrooms Found in the PNW
shan · tr · el
Likes a wide variety of trees, like the douglas fir, spruce, pine, oak, western hemlock, sitka spruce, aspen, and birch trees.
por · chee · nee
Lives near a wide variety of trees, like the douglas fir, spruce, pine, oak, western hemlock, sitka spruce, aspen, and birch trees.
mott · soo · tak · ee
Likes pine trees. Matsutake's can sometimes be found hiding under leaves and branches at the base of a pine.
Check Out These Fungal Blooms
Make a Mushroom Spore Print
Mushrooms have spores, which are super tiny little cells. Theses spores act like seeds and allow fungi to reproduce. They fall from the bottom of the mushroom cap. If you take a spore print, you are able to see lots of them together in a unique design. Here is how to make one!
Find a Mushroom
Mushrooms like to grow in damp shady areas, on older logs, and under fallen leaves. Once you find some, you can gently pick a ripe (firm and not too soggy) one from the base. Only take as much as you need and no more than half of them. This ensures that there is enough for others and that there is enough of them left to put their spores in the ground so more will grow next year. You can also use mushrooms you find at the grocery store too. Be sure to give thanks to the fungi for allowing you to use its mushroom, as it took a lot of energy for the fungi to make it.
Tip: The fall and springtime are usually when they like to pop up!
Extra activity: While you are out looking, if you take a small piece of soil and turn it up, you may see lots of small white strands, these act like roots and are a part of the fungi too, they are called mycelium (my-cee-lee-um). Be sure to place the soil back as it was and give thanks.
Take Off the Cap
Remove the cap (top wide part) of the mushroom, place them on a piece of paper, and cover with a bowl.
Wait
Give them some time and let them sit overnight. When you wake up the mushroom will have left you a gift of a spore print!
Write a Letter to a Friend or Tree
And send it to us. Email stories to info@tacomatreefoundation.org.
Below is an example:
How to Create a Mushroom Pop Up Card
Pick out your colors of construction paper.
Draw out your shapes and be sure to leave extra room so that you can glue them all together.
Wait
Cut out your shapes.
Glue them together and fold the bottom of the grass over. (need video for gif)
Add decorations and any messages you would like to include!
Check Out Our Zine
We made a zine (mini-magazine) below about how fungi help trees communicate with each other below the soil!
Speaking of Zines...
Learn a couple cool and easy ways to bind your own zine in the videos below.
How to saddle stitch a zine with a stapler.
How to make a thread or yarn binding.
How People Communicate
How Are You Feeling? - Lushootseed Emotions
Courtesy of Puyallup Tribal Languages
I love you: ʔuʔušəbicid čəd
Courtesy of Puyallup Tribal Languages
