Mycology
Birch Bolete (Leccinum Scabrum): Rare in Tuscany
Learn how to identify the birch bolete (Leccinum scabrum) by its brown cap and scabrous stem, and why it's rare in Tuscan forests.
The Journal
Journal
Field notes from the Tuscan Apennines: trails, mushrooms, birds, light, and the slow craft of reading a landscape.
Mycology
Porcelain Fungus: A Translucent Mushroom on Beech
The porcelain fungus (Oudemansiella mucida): translucent, slimy, and found on beech trees. Identification and ecology.
Mycology
Scaly Mushroom With Raised Scales: Pholiota Squarrosa
The spiky mushroom with raised scales on its cap: Pholiota squarrosa. Identification, habitat, and ecology in Tuscan forests.
Mycology
Chanterelles in Tuscany: Hunting the Golden Mushroom
Learn to identify and find chanterelles (galletti, gallinacci) in Tuscany's forests with expert mycological guidance and …
Mycology
Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis Crispa) in Tuscany
The cauliflower fungus (Sparassis crispa): identification, pine forest habitat, and where to find it in Tuscany.
Mycology
Tinder Fungus: The Mushroom Ötzi Had 5000 Years Ago
Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius): the hoof-shaped bracket mushroom Ötzi carried. Identification, ecology, and where to find it in …
Mycology
Lycoperdon Perlatum: The Common Puffball in Tuscany
Lycoperdon perlatum (vescia) in Tuscany: where the common puffball grows and the cut test that tells it apart from a deadly …
Hidden Tuscany
Best Outdoor Activities in Pistoia: Nature and Hikes
Pistoia's hidden outdoor treasures: nature reserves, Apennine peaks, family hikes, and wilderness beyond the typical tourist …
Mycology
The Mushroom Book I Still Recommend for Foraging
Why Geoff Dann's Edible Mushrooms is the best beginner's guide: difficulty ratings that prevent deadly mistakes, from a Tuscany …
Mycology
Can You Hunt Mushrooms Freely in Tuscany?
Mushroom foraging in Tuscany: who needs a permit, how the Region issues it, what the limits are, and how a local guide explains …
Hidden Tuscany
Castelvecchio: Explore Tuscany's Hidden Medieval Ruins
Castelvecchio's ruins near San Gimignano: a forgotten medieval village from the year 1000, on private land, with no signs and no …
Mycology
Laccaria Amethystina: Tuscany's Amethyst Deceiver
Laccaria amethystina in Tuscany: the amethyst deceiver mushroom, its vivid colour, arsenic accumulation, and foraging safety, from …
Mycology
Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) in Tuscany
Parasol mushroom identification and foraging in Tuscany. Where to find Macrolepiota procera and how to tell it apart.
Mycology
Porcini in Tuscany: Where and When Boletus Edulis Grows
Discover the reality of finding Boletus edulis (porcini, cep, penny bun) in Tuscany: learn about the four species and their forest …
Hiking
Are There Flora and Fungi Tours in Tuscany?
Discover specialized botanical and mycological hiking tours in Tuscany, combining expert guidance with photography and rare plant …