He was sure he had found farts (Calvatia and Lycoperdon) on yesterday’s hike.
I followed my own rules for identification and edibility. Last night I compared the characteristics of mushrooms with my field guides, notes, and trusted sources. Finally, a couple of hours after dinner, I cooked and ate a small piece of what I know to be edible.
This morning, I had two more small pieces and if I’m still feeling good, lunch will be a sauteed mushroom omelette.
Once again, I have “Wildman” Steve Brill to thank for personally encouraging me to apply my mushroom hunting skills and for posting detailed information on his website.
In the field, I collected small mushrooms that grew on buried and decaying logs. They were soft and when I opened them, their inner flesh was still white. That was enough to put them in paper bags and take them home. Once I got them out again, I compared their qualities and shapes with my field guides and the “Wildman” website.
He knew the worst case scenario is that the poisonous appearance would cause digestive upset, but not death. I also knew that they turn black inside a while after you open them.
Once I was sure I had pear (Lycoperdon pyriforme), I searched for recipes. “Wildman” suggested a simple preparation, because the taste of the mushroom is delicate, despite the strong aroma.
Yesterday was one of those rare perfect weather days. With a storm brewing, I took advantage of the time for a long hike. Saw a red-tailed hawk, fresh coyote droppings, almost collided with a doe and her fawn, and even found a little chicken mushroom and some wild summer veggies.
The painted turtles were back on the log; recent rain has cleared vegetation from the lake’s surface. I’ll take a little hike today before the predicted tropical storm hits.
If the weather forecasts are accurate – heavy rains followed by warm sunny days – conditions will be perfect for fungi to spread their spores. Hopefully I’ll be in the right place and time to continue my studies.
