Sunday, November 9, 2014

Mushrooming

Last year Josh and I dabbled in a bit a foraging.  Encouraged by our walks through the woods we decided to try our hand at mushrooming.  And to my astonishment the forest had so much to offer and not just in the way of fungi.  Every weekend I found myself obsessively drawn to the parks.  I bought both a Minnesota and Wisconsin state park pass and began exploring.  A wild rush would overcome me when I spotted a mushroom.  Could I eat it?  Are the gills forked, decurrent, attached?  What color is the spore print?   I learned so much and still have a lifetime of learning ahead of me.  Here are a few of my favorites.   Until next year...
 Chicken of the Woods
 Chantarelle-easily my favorite mushroom to forage.  The scent of apricot is overwhelmingly lovely.
 Coral Mushroom-one of my first successful edibles.  Peppery and fragrant.
Puffballs.
 Gem Studded Puffballs
 Giant Puffballs-this whopper weighed in a 5.5lbs
 Hedgehogs
 Shaggy Manes-the gills on this beauty are so tightly spaced that they appear to have none at all.
 Aborted Entoloma and Honey Mushrooms-where you find one you are likely to find others.
 Chaga

And my biggest prize; a gorgeous Maitake.

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