At the June 9 meeting of MMS, members were treated to the premiere showing of the DVD, “Ode to Minnesota Mushrooms.” Member Dr. Rolf Engel’s pictures, coupled with Dr. Raul Cifuentes’ choice of music, fulfilled Rolf’s aim of helping viewers experience the “aesthetic delight of mushroom pictures enhanced by music.” Lost in the mesmerizing beauty of combined pictures and music, most members were surprised that 20 minutes had passed. There was universal agreement that the “Ode” should be shown again at a winter meeting of MMS. The club is also recommending the production for inclusion at the upcoming NAMA Foray in Quebec.

Especially interesting to MMS members is that Rolf took all of the pictures locally. Inspired by the Taylor Lockwood DVD, “Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi” with its pictures from several continents, Rolf became intrigued with the idea of achieving a similar effect, but using only Minnesota fungi. His mushroom pictures come from two sources: specimens from MMS meetings in 2002 and those growing in his own yard in Arden Hills. The surprisingly large number of mushrooms from Rolf’s yard appear to confirm his long-held conjecture that scattering “leftover” specimens from the club meetings in his yard would contribute to a great diversity of species. Rolf also found that by taking photographs in proximity to his home he could catch the most favorable light conditions and capture different stages in the brief life cycle of his subjects.

Dr. Raul F. Cifuentes, the producer of “Ode,” is the current Director of the Newborn ICU at Hennepin County Medical Center where Dr. Rolf Engel now works part-time. Dr. Cifuentes arranged the mushroom pictures against a muscial backdrop of "Sheep May Safely Graze" by William Walton and "The Lark Ascending" by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The “Ode’s” doctor duo find that with each heavy rainfall there is a new crop of mushrooms, presenting fresh opportunities to improve on the pictures they already have. They are cautious of giving in to this impulse, but Rolf does wish to make at least one revision —honoring his mother’s lifelong desire to learn the names of plants and mushrooms —identifying all of the fungi in the production.

The “Ode to Minnesota Mushrooms” reminds us of what engages us most in what, to others, might seem an “eccentric” pursuit of fungi. Far beyond their edibility, the members of this kingdom--even the dullest “-cybes”--continue to amaze and captivate us with their exotic beauty and complexity. Copies of the DVD are available from Mycobliss Inc. at 3265 N. Snelling Ave., Arden Hills, MN 55112 for $12.00 each.

—Adele Mehta

Sample Images from "Ode to Minnesota Mushrooms"

Below are some of the elegant mushrooms photographed by Dr. Rolf Engel, and produced by Dr. Raul Cifuentes.