Field Record 001.
On my first visit to the Candy Cap Woods, I was greeted by a circle of dancing mushrooms. They clung to my pants and chattered with delighted, high-pitched squeaks. They all had red caps with white spots, like the poisonous amanita Muscaria mushrooms, but I had never heard of mushrooms that could dance and roll and pop about. As I would later find out, these mushrooms were a special, magical species of mushroom that grew solely in the Candy Cap Woods. This species cannot grow itself through the mycelium like a normal toadstool. Instead, the mycelium is a conscious, intelligent being who forms infant "shoots" or above ground mushrooms. These shoots separate from the mycelium and can wander until they are ready to settle down and start a new growth of the species. Unfortunately, they also lose most of their intelligence when they sprout, and so very few manage to survive long enough to propagate.
On one of my subsequent visits to the woods, I met the mushroom's caregiver - a mushroom witch named Mina. She was the one who informed me about my new, silly little friends. My initial hunch was correct, and the smallest were the newest shoots, who eventually grew legs, then arms, and then a frill around their neck, which, according to Mina, meant they had reached the age of maturity and could start their own branch of mycelium. Typically, they would not separate from their parent until then, but that rarely held true. The little guys were simply too curious for their own good, and would wander off, not realizing that they could not return.
Since our first meeting, Mina and I have worked out a wonderful plan to help ease the burden of caring for the dozens of shoots, and to help the species grow by spreading them throughout the world. We will now hold adoptions of the various shoots! No two are identical, and we have many of each age, but all need a home. I can only hope that the creation of this field guide will help them and all the others I've met here in the woods find a good forever home.
Mycelium Shoots and Shrooms
Candy Cap is excited to introduce our new reward tiers! Now, you can earn more rewards with every purchase. The more you spend, the more you receive! There’s no need for coupon codes or signing up—just add your favorite items to your cart, check out, and we’ll take care of the rest!
All purchases: 3 - 4 free stickers.
$15 or more: 1 mystery mochi squishy.
$30 or more: 1 3D printed fidget toy, plus all the above.
$45 or more: 1 mini notebook and pen, plus all the above.
$60 or more: 1 mini building block set, plus all the above
$75 or more: 1 handmade silicone beaded pen, plus all the above
$90 or more: 1 handmade crochet keychain, plus all the above
$110 or more: 1 small crochet plush, plus all the above
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Rewards are non-transferable. Customers can request specific colors or animals they do or do not want in their order notes, and we will do our best to honor them. However, not all requests can be accommodated as the selection depends on availability. We do not allow alternative rewards for different prize tiers (ex, a block set instead of a 3D fidget toy). If you have any questions, please email candycapcrochet@gmail.com.
