THE ENCHANTED NATURE NEWSLETTER
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Issue 45
January 2025
Greetings Enchanted Nature Community
We hope that you're enjoying winter and finding time to be enchanted by the miracles of nature.
Enjoy our latest issue of
The Enchanted Nature Newsletter.
Presence
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"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book,
waiting to be written." — Melody Beattie
As we step into the future—whether with hope or hesitation—do not forget the importance of being fully present in the moment, in what many have called "the now".
Reflecting on the past year, Enchanted Nature reached exciting milestones, from the debut of our medicinal mushroom extracts to the successful launch of The Enchanted Mushroom Festival. These achievements were only possible because of the many hands and hearts that contributed along the way. For that, we offer our deepest gratitude. From encouraging words, to photos, to hours of dedicated helping, you all know who you are and how important your contributions have been to Enchanted Nature. Thank you!
2024 was filled with unforgettable moments,
Looking ahead, challenges and uncertainties will surely arise.
We will strive to build upon last year's successes but our greatest aspiration is to find joy in the present.
May we embrace the beauty of every season—the snow and ice, the rain and mud, the cold and heat
—with a spirit of gratitude, knowing that each moment holds its own wonder.
From Our Readers
We are grateful for your contributions!
Your photos make The Enchanted Nature Newsletter more interesting for the community.
If any of you see anything enchanting in nature, take a picture and please send it along.
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We are often asked if mushrooms grow in the winter.
The answer is
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Above, Eileen Feim sent a lovely photo of Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor ) mushrooms.
Below, Cory Egger submitted some excellent fungal pics
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It's hard to tell from the picture but these look like frosty Turkey Tail mushrooms.
Below is a great example of old Turkey Tails (white) and fresh newer ones.
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Great pic Cory! This appears to be Flamulina velutipes commonly called the Velvet Foot mushroom.
The single mushroom in the background and the moss make this log it's own unique landscape.
Thank you for your submissions! May the forest be with you.
Remember, if you can't get enough fungal fun,
Check out the articles at the
Please send us your pics and queries:
adventures@enchantednaturetours.com
You can also text your pics & questions to (540) 324-8778.
From The Writers
Below we have Apioperdon pyriforme commonly called the Pear Shaped Puffball.
When an animal or a rain drop hits this mushroom, millions and millions of spores are released
in hope of finding a suitable substrate to grow a new mycelial network.
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Every season has its own beauty.
POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS FROM 2024
By: Victoria Vacher
During the long cold and snowy, stressful days of January we always look for the positive. Luckily, there is an abundance of good news on positive environmental happenings in 2024. Here are just a few of them:
* HAWAII REPLACED ITS LAST COAL PLANT
The solution is with a giant battery proving how grid functions can be switched from
fossil-fueled plants. Any step in the direction of clean energy is a win for the
environment.
* COLORADO HAS DECLARED BEES “AS ANIMALS TOO”
Recognizing the importance of pollinators such as bees. Colorado has taken the first
step in protecting those that play such an essential role in life as we know it. This means
that existing wildlife programs and funds can now be used to protect bees as well. We
can only hope that other states follow their excellent lead.
* EU APPROVES NATURE RESTORATION LAW
After much deliberation the EU has passed this law that represents a commitment to
restoring Europe’s damaged ecosystems and encourage biodiversity. It aims to restore
20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030. Plus fully restoring all degraded
ecosystems by 2050. This law is a major win for nature on the continent and for the
world.
* US NATIONAL PARKS RECEIVED $700 MILLION TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
This money was received due to the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. It will
facilitate the parks in defending themselves against the worst effects of climate change.
It is a step in the right direction and will enable parks to restore and revitalize the land.
* STUDIES PROVE THAT REFORESTATION WORKS
In the eastern United States studies have shown that the effects of the vast
deforestation from the 18th century to the early 20th have been mitigated with recent
planting efforts. Approximately 37,065,800 acres of forest have been replanted and are
helping to keep regions cool in the face of rising temperatures. These studies show
proof of an remarkable ecological recovery and how effective reforestation can be.
* SEA TURTLES ARE MAKING A COMEBACK
On the Gulf Coast of Florida a beautiful barrier island called Anna Maria has earned
celebration rights for a win in sea turtle conservation. The implementation of Anti-plastic
movement recommendations (started to help turtles specifically) and other conservation
methods seems to be working. In July, volunteers counted a total of 546 nests on the
island breaking a 42-year record. A major win for conservation and for sea turtles too!
* WORLD’S LARGEST CORAL COLONY IS DISCOVERED
Scientists have discovered what was thought to be a shipwreck off the Solomon
Island in the Pacific Ocean is actually the world’s largest coral colony. It measures 112’ x
105’ making it larger than the Earth’s biggest animal - the blue whale. The colony is so
large it can be see from space, but somehow has remained unseen for all these years.
The researchers who discovered the coral say it is in good health but faces numerous
threats as do reefs all over the world. As coral reefs hold such responsibility for the
health of our oceans let’s hope this discovery will bring additional marine protections
throughout the world’s waterways.
* MURDER HORNETS ERADICATED FROM THE U.S.
Four years after the discovery of murder hornets in the U.S. officials have announced
that they have been eradicated from the country. These invasive hornets would kill off
entire bee hives as they spread into new territory. Our bees are already threatened and
this particular species was especially dangerous. We are adamant about saving nature
but there is always an exception to every rule. These hornets will not be missed.
Canada has begun a Monarch Habitat Restoration Program, Montana’s Supreme
Court held up the court ruling that children have a fundamental constitutional right to a
clean and healthful environment, Balcony solar is taking off in Germany, Fashion has
moved away from using feathers, Doggies are dispersing wildflower seeds in East
Sussex, Sustainability attitudes are changing consumerism!!! So many positive news
stories happened in 2024 there isn’t room to list them all, but there is a glimmer of
environmental optimism and we need as much optimism as we can muster.
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Enchanted Nature News
Plans for the
SECOND ANNUAL ENCHANTED MUSHROOM FESTIVAL
are progressing.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 10am-5pm.
This will be a wonderful family-friendly day with more vendors, more entertainment, more artisans, more talks and more fun!
Ready for Morel season? We have a few seats still available for our
This is the perfect time to enjoy a weekend with someone special.
The Friday before is Valentine's Day. There is much to see and do on Saturday including nearby hikes. Staunton offers delightful shops, entertainment, amazing cuisine, history, a thriving art scene, and much more. Sunday is the workshop and that Monday is Presidents' Day. We are more that happy to recommend accommodations, dining options, hikes, and other points of interest.
Interested in the health effects of fungi?
Enjoy our new Medicinal Mushroom Workshop
Enchanted Nature Mushroom Extracts Are Available.
Our extracts can be purchased at:
White's Wayside, The Necessary Mercantile, The Cheese Shop and Polyface Farms
You can also order online through our Trading Post
If you have any nature, gardening, or horticultural questions or comments, feel free to send them to adventures@enchantednaturetours.com
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Appreciation of Trees
Trees stand as silent guardians, offering us shade, oxygen, and beauty while asking for nothing in return. Taking a moment to admire their strength and resilience reminds us of nature’s quiet wisdom and generosity.
Findings reported in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, suggest that keeping a few snapshots of greenery around yourself might be beneficial. When participants viewed the natural images in the experiment, their stress levels lowered, thanks to the activation of their parasympathetic nervous system – which controls certain rest functions. "Viewing green scenes may thus be particularly effective in supporting relaxation and recovery after experiencing a stressful period and thereby could serve as an opportunity for micro-restorative experiences and a promising tool in preventing chronic stress and stress-related diseases." Take a deep breath, hold it, and let it out slowly as you relax.
NATURE IS CALLING, WILL YOU ANSWER
There are many proven health benefits to spending time in nature. It has also been proven that just looking at images of nature can provide multiple health benefits including: reducing depression, speeding healing, improving your immune system, preventing dementia, improving your mood, and increasing happiness. We plan on ending each newsletter with a short video of a natural scene. Hopefully the videos will provide you with some of the benefits listed above.
Stay safe and enjoy nature
If you haven't taken the time to explore our website, please do.
There are a lot of free educational resources to enjoy
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