Thursday, August 27, 2009
Some pics from last weekend's mushroom hunt in North Park. Enjoy.
Cantharellus Minor, the small chanterelle. And when I say small, I mean tiny! This edible has a cap that might be one inch across on a good day, so you need to find lots of them.
Coral fungus. Most days, I'm lucky to find this. On this trip however, the coral was everywhere. Couldn't take a step in some places without crushing it.
Indian pipes. Not a mushroom, but when you see this, thar be 'shrooms nearby.
Amanita bisporigera. This is a mushroom everyone should know. Why? It is probably responsible for more deaths in this country than any other mushroom. Unfortunately, it is rather common, and those who have eaten it claim that its quite tasty. However, you only get about 48 hours to a week to tell everyone how good it is. Then you croak. Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Moving Up!
Earned my "25" button at the WPMC meeting last night! That means I've found and identified 25 different mushrooms. ACtually, I've done 29, but the next button is for 50 mushrooms. Unfortunatly, I've ID most of the "easy" ones. Things start getting a bit harder on the road to 50!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Shroom Hunt!
Spent the morning with the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club hunting fungi in Indiana Township's Emmerling Park. Things started slowly until I bellowed "CHANTERELLE!" which sent all the 'shroomers, including my very pregnant wife, scrambling up a 50 degree slope to gather in the golden goodness. Abd yes, I didn't do it for laughs, I actually saw a nice clump of 'em.
Labels: Emmerling Park, mushrooms, nature, WPMC
There were chanterelles everywhere! Mary and I collected over a pound, and everyone on the walk got at least as much as we did. I also saw lots and lots of chanterelles just poking up, so if we get a good rain next wekk, it may be worth a trip back.
Labels: Emmerling Park, mushrooms, nature, WPMC
The Old Man of the Woods! This homely mushroom is supposed to be a good edible, but it turns black as ink when you cook it. I just can't get over the color!Labels: Emmerling Park, mushrooms, nature, WPMC
A pair of nice boletes. These are common, pored mushrooms, but identifying them to species is a nightmare!Labels: Emmerling Park, mushrooms, nature, WPMC
A pair of boletes. I haven't figured out what kind they are yet, however they do not stain blue, the pores are yellow, and they don't taste bitter, so they're likely edible. Now to nail down the species so I can add it to my list!Labels: Emmerling Park, mushrooms, nature
Stinkhorns. These are called "Stinky Squid." They smell like roadkill.Labels: Emmerling Park, mushrooms, nature
Friday, August 14, 2009
Busy Weekend
Lots to do today...so enjoy some pics of last weeks mushroom walk in Frick Park. If any of my Pittsburgh area readers are interested, we'll be doing a walk at Emmerling park Saturday, beginning at 10am. Emmerling park is off Rt 910, between Freeport Rd and Saxonburg Blvd. With the rain we've had this week, it should be a good day to find mushrooms. Yesterday, I found about a half pound of chanterelles growing along the side of the road!Labels: mushrooms
Some slightly out-of-focus scaly pholiotas. This species was once considered edible, but apparently, enought people have been sickened by it that its been moved into the non-edible category. I guess it all depends on your sensitivity.
Labels: mushrooms
A lovely clump of young jack o'lanterns! Unfortunatly, when they're at this stage, some people mistake the posionous jack o'lantern for the edible chanterelle, much to their regret. Good news is, it probably wont kill you. Bad news is, it will make you wish you were dead!Labels: mushrooms
