Forager's Field NotesForaging calendar · public records
Foraging calendar: Washington
Month by month, when people in Washington record the things foragers look for: 17 species from 16,440 public observations. Darker means more of that row's records fall in that month.
| Recorded | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MorelsMorchella spp. iNaturalist · n=978 | ||||||||||||
| Oyster mushroomsPleurotus spp. iNaturalist · n=1,223 | ||||||||||||
| ElderberriesSambucus spp. iNaturalist · n=1,038 · USA-NPN ripe fruits peak Jul (n=18) | ||||||||||||
| HazelnutsCorylus spp. iNaturalist · n=76 | ||||||||||||
| Wild strawberriesFragaria spp. iNaturalist · n=77 | ||||||||||||
| Blackberries, raspberries and relativesRubus spp. iNaturalist · n=3,340 · USA-NPN ripe fruits peak Sep (n=27) | ||||||||||||
| Serviceberries (juneberries)Amelanchier spp. iNaturalist · n=115 | ||||||||||||
| SumacsRhus spp. iNaturalist · n=108 | ||||||||||||
| Blueberries, huckleberries and relativesVaccinium spp. iNaturalist · n=1,736 · USA-NPN ripe fruits peak Jul (n=68) | ||||||||||||
| ChokecherryPrunus virginiana iNaturalist · n=50 | ||||||||||||
| Wild roses (hips)Rosa spp. iNaturalist · n=612 · USA-NPN ripe fruits peak Oct (n=18) | ||||||||||||
| Chicken of the woodsLaetiporus spp. iNaturalist · n=1,506 | ||||||||||||
| ChanterellesCantharellus spp. iNaturalist · n=2,417 | ||||||||||||
| King boleteBoletus edulis iNaturalist · n=1,441 | ||||||||||||
| Lion's mane and other HericiumHericium spp. iNaturalist · n=653 | ||||||||||||
| Black trumpets and other CraterellusCraterellus spp. iNaturalist · n=951 | ||||||||||||
| Hedgehog mushroomsHydnum spp. iNaturalist · n=119 |
Questions
When do people record mushrooms in Washington?
In the public records, the busiest months are: Chanterelles (Oct), Chicken of the woods (Sep), King bolete (Oct), Oyster mushrooms (May), Morels (Apr), Black trumpets and other Craterellus (Nov). That is when people reported them, not a forecast or a statement that anything is safe to eat.
When do people record wild fruit and nuts in Washington?
Records of plants with fruit peak as follows: Blackberries, raspberries and relatives (Jul), Blueberries, huckleberries and relatives (Aug), Elderberries (Jun), Wild roses (hips) (Aug), Serviceberries (juneberries) (Jul), Sumacs (Jul). Fruit on a plant in a record says nothing about ripeness or edibility.
Is this a guide to what is safe to eat?
No. It lists when people recorded species in public datasets. It does not identify anything or judge edibility. Confirm every find with a qualified local expert.
Source and date
- iNaturalist
- Research-grade observations, Washington, all years to 2026-10-20: mushrooms as all observations; fruit and nut plants as observations annotated "Fruits or Seeds". Retrieved 2026-10-20 from the iNaturalist API. inaturalist.org
- USA-NPN
- Nature's Notebook "Ripe fruits" phenophase status records, Washington, 2009–2025 (one record = one plant in one year, from first to last "yes"). Retrieved 2026-10-20 from the USA National Phenology Network data service, shown as a cross-check where a row has at least 8 records. usanpn.org
- Rows
- A row appears when a species has at least 40 Washington records; a month page exists when at least 3 rows have records that month. Common names are the ones foragers use and are not an identification; the scientific name is the source's taxon.
Nearby states
Record what you find
Forager's Field Notes is a private journal: your own names, your own patches, stored only on your phone. Log a find and your own calendar builds itself, week by week, with a year wheel you can share and a field checklist for next month.