Mushrooms!

For the last three years the rainy season was late spring to midsummer, this year it has switched over to late summer, probably all due to the La Nina/El Nino phenomena in the Pacific Ocean – thousands of miles away yet shows how interconnected our planet’s weather systems are. Anyway, this has brought a profusion of fungi, a lot more than I normally find as I wander around our 4 acres of variegated garden and woodland.

From tiny little Witch’s Hats – a variety that I haven’t seen before – to the wonderfully elegant Parasol, these fruiting bodies emerge after a few days of rain, or, sometimes shortly after a short but heavy downpour.

It’s important to note that most are inedible and often poisonous to man or beast. Fortunately our animals avoid all of them.

It is a welcome find to come across one of the Boletus species, I have found two around about Millgate, the Suede Bolete and the smaller Chestnut Bolete both of which like to hide amongst the mulch under our pine and oak trees. These are edible and are a favourite breakfast treat of mine lightly braised in butter and garlic.

This year aside form the Witch’s Hat and Boletus I have found , and identified, several Brittle Gill species, Parasol and Shaggy Parasol, Fringed Sawgills, Blusher, Leopard Earthballs, Death Caps (oo-er!), Saffron Milkcaps, Oyster, Panther Cap and the peculiar Barometer Earthstar! I occasionally find Wine Caps which are edible as well.

I use a handy little ap on my cellphone to identify the different varieties I stumble upon, called ‘Picture Mushroom’, as it states, mistakes can be made in identification and further research is encouraged but it is pretty accurate and gives a relevant starting point. There are professional fungi guides around the Midlands and group mushroom hunting exhibitions are available.