{"id":2077308,"date":"2026-08-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2077308"},"modified":"2026-08-04T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T21:00:00","slug":"lydia-hansen-introduces-hikers-to-native-midwest-mushrooms-on-crocheted-fungi-hunts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2077308","title":{"rendered":"Lydia Hansen Introduces Hikers to Native Midwest Mushrooms on Crocheted \u2018Fungi Hunts\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a cluster of crocheted black-and-white mushrooms in woods in Minnesota\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shaggy mane inkcap. All images courtesy of Lydia Hansen, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Lydia Hansen Introduces Hikers to Native Midwest Mushrooms on Crocheted \u2018Fungi Hunts\u2019<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-04T10:33:03-05:00\">August 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"colossal-share-buttons\">\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--facebook\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Flydia-hansen-fungi-hunts-crocheted-mushrooms-minnesota%2F&amp;title=Lydia%20Hansen%20Introduces%20Hikers%20to%20Native%20Midwest%20Mushrooms%20on%20Crocheted%20%26%238216%3BFungi%20Hunts%26%238217%3B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--pinterest\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Flydia-hansen-fungi-hunts-crocheted-mushrooms-minnesota%2F&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Fhansen-5-960x1093.jpg&amp;description=Lydia%20Hansen%20Introduces%20Hikers%20to%20Native%20Midwest%20Mushrooms%20on%20Crocheted%20%26%238216%3BFungi%20Hunts%26%238217%3B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share to Pinterest\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Pin<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--email\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email this article\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--copy\">\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy article link\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link colossal-share-button__copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/lydia-hansen-fungi-hunts-crocheted-mushrooms-minnesota\/\" data-label-default=\"Copy\" data-label-copied=\"Copied!\" data-aria-default=\"Copy article link\" data-aria-copied=\"Link copied to clipboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Copy<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--bookmark\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"476432\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In 2023, Minnesota-based artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lydiahansen.art\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lydia Hansen<\/a> set a goal of taking at least one hike every week throughout the entire year to care for her mental health. She began musing about how fun it would be to create crocheted mushrooms that one would encounter with the same surprise they\u2019d feel coming across the real thing. Serendipitously, she ran into one of the trail managers of the park she was exploring and shared her idea. \u201cThat turned into my very first <em>Fungi Hunt<\/em>, which ran for an entire year at the Lost Creek Hiking Trail near Chatfield, Minnesota,\u201d the artist tells Colossal.<\/p>\n<p>This summer marks the third iteration of the project, which visitors can explore at <a href=\"https:\/\/eaglebluffmn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center<\/a> in Lanesboro, Minnesota, and Hansen already has more planned for the next couple of seasons. The artist describes her practice as \u201cexperiential fiber art,\u201d combining her love of nature and creativity in the public sphere. \u201cWhen I was developing the <em>Fungi Hunt<\/em>, one of the motivating factors behind the design was to create something that would encourage people to be looking up from their feet and taking note of what was around them as they walked,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476432\" title=\"Turkey tail\" data-rl_title=\"Turkey tail\" data-rl_caption=\"Turkey tail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1562\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-6.jpg\" alt=\"a crocheted version of Turkey tail fungi on a stump in woods in Minnesota\" class=\"wp-image-476434\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Turkey tail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Each crocheted oyster mushroom or turkey tail is a nod to native flora of the region. \u201cThe point of this \u2018restriction\u2019 is to highlight what\u2019s already around us, not just the most colorful, most unusual, or most oddball fungi species the world has to offer\u2014and there are many weirdo fungi out there,\u201d Hansen says. She uses secondhand yarn for the mushrooms themselves, then she staples, screws, or stakes the pieces temporarily onto dead wood.<\/p>\n<p>A grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council supports the Eagle Bluff project and allowed Hansen to contract Minnesota naturalist and \u201cfellow fungi nerd\u201d Tanner Barnharst to develop interpretive signage. \u201cAs the internet gets rapidly more unreliable to accurate scientific information, I wanted to make sure folks could get good information on the hikes\u2014especially since cell service is spotty on a lot of these trails,\u201d the artist says.<\/p>\n<p>The Eagle Bluff <em>Fungi Hunt <\/em>continues through October 31. If you\u2019re in the area, Hansen and Barnharst will be leading a free guided mycology hike in the afternoon of August 16. The artist is currently preparing for her largest hunt yet, which will take place across three parks in Olmsted County next summer. She\u2019s also curating a fungi-themed exhibition at <a href=\"https:\/\/koubagallery.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kouba Gallery<\/a> in Bloomington, Minnesota, and is excited to be fielding invitations from further afield for future installations.<\/p>\n<p>See more on Hansen\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lydiahansen.art\/\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476432\" title=\"Pheasantback\" data-rl_title=\"Pheasantback\" data-rl_caption=\"Pheasantback\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1999\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-4.jpg\" alt=\"a trio of crocheted mushrooms on a tree in woods in Minnesota\" class=\"wp-image-476439\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pheasantback<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476432\" title=\"Oyster mushroom\" data-rl_title=\"Oyster mushroom\" data-rl_caption=\"Oyster mushroom\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-3.jpg\" alt=\"a trio of crocheted mushrooms on a tree in woods in Minnesota\" class=\"wp-image-476438\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oyster mushroom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476432\" title=\"Giant puffball\" data-rl_title=\"Giant puffball\" data-rl_caption=\"Giant puffball\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1499\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-1.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476436\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Giant puffball<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476432\" title=\"Golden oyster\" data-rl_title=\"Golden oyster\" data-rl_caption=\"Golden oyster\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-2.jpg\" alt=\"a cluster of crocheted golden mushrooms on a tree in woods in Minnesota\" class=\"wp-image-476437\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Golden oyster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476432\" title=\"Chicken of the woods\" data-rl_title=\"Chicken of the woods\" data-rl_caption=\"Chicken of the woods\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hansen-7.jpg\" alt=\"a cluster of crocheted golden mushrooms on a tree in woods in Minnesota with a sign denoting it&apos;s Chicken of the Woods\" class=\"wp-image-476435\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chicken of the woods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/susan-kae-grant-night-journey-photography-book\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shaggy mane inkcap. All images courtesy of Lydia Hansen, shared with permission Lydia Hansen Introduces Hikers to Native Midwest Mushrooms on Crocheted \u2018Fungi Hunts\u2019 August 4, 2026 CraftNature Kate Mothes Share Pin Email Copy Bookmark In 2023, Minnesota-based artist Lydia Hansen set a goal of taking at least one hike every week throughout the entire [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-2077308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2077308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2077308\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2077308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2077308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2077308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}