by Karen Ryan 

Rain, yahoo! 

Searching for Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushroom) …

Scientific classification:

Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Pleurotaceae
Genus: Pleurotus
Species: P. osteatus
Binomial name: Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P.Kumm. (1871)[1] 

Springtime in the Rockies allows the oyster mushroom to show their beauty seen growing on living and dying hardwood trees and logs like Aspens and other Poplars. They prefer cooler temperatures and grow in shelf-like clusters in moist forested areas and along riverbanks. 

The combination of cool climate, Spring rains followed by sunshine make for the perfect happy hunting experience. 

These wonderful mushrooms are choice edibles as well. Be sure to know your mushroom before eating. Don’t forget to bring your compass/GPS, warm clothes, sunscreen, hunting utensils and reference books. Bring along an expert or knowledgeable new friend in the field of fungi identification from CMS to help guide and further assist you in habitat, and proper identification.