[stasis]

I have found a new passion. Got two great guidebooks and a property next door unoccupied, 4 acres or so, to search on. Varied trees, much redwood, but not all.

Such a nice leasurely pursuit. Have enjoyed a few bites with some I am sure about, and learning about the rest. They are funny, and I am sure sometimes I feel something. Tonight, I added a particularly chunky Chanterelle to an omelet, and I am sure I got a little buzz. Probably ruining my credibility with that statement, but whatever.

There is something magical about Natural Wild Mushrooms..!!!

Have found quite a lot of different ones. Will list them as well as put up some pics.. YOU..?

Boletus Edulis (King Bolete, Porcini, Gamboni - local name)
Yellow Chanterelles
Zeller's Bolete
Suillus - Short Stemmed Slippery Jack in profusion
Poor Man's Slippery Jack
Red Mycenae - no eat.
Amanitas of all kinds orange, beige, brown..
others.

I have wanted to learn more because I love mushrooms. However, the gimpy knee and other stuff keep getting in the way. And then I've been reading about some deaths nearby of folks who've eaten wild mushies that the cook thought were safe.

I've never tasted morelles, chanterelles, or porcini. There are more, but those are off the toppamah.

[Al Botross]

I got a golden Chanterelle spot that will be abundant in a few weeks

[stasis]

Chanterelles DO have poisonous lookalikes, the Jack-O-Lantern is the problematic one. On the otherhand, the Chanterelles almost never have worms (Fly Larvae - maggots)..

ONE of the cool things about Mushrooming is that One MUST use a slow gait or One will miss some specimens.. I was quite injured (still am to a certain extent) by some sort of -temporary, but all-pervasive- Back injury and the searches have helped me to loosen up the injury...

I understand the considerations regarding Poisoning. There are ways to eliminate the possibility. Certain Methods of eating - especially at first, until One learns UNEQUIVOCALLY which are OK to eat. Just a couple bites of something One has not yet eaten. See in 24 hours if any negative reactions. Some people get gastric upset even from highly edible species...! And some Folks NEVER get sick unless they take in something truly poisonous. Most Mushrooms, at worst will provide one with numerous trips to the "facilities," not more than that.

One does NOT eat Mushrooms with Poisonous Lookalikes... Or most LBM's (Little Brown Mushrooms) because they are difficult if not impossible to positively identify, so forget it.

Things like King Boletes, are hard to mistake. Most Boletes (which are obvious as such - have NO Gills, and profuse in NorCal) are OK to eat. At worst, they may taste bland - like some Slippery Jacks do.

With the Boletes, One must usually get to them when they are quite young, before the aforementioned Worms get in. They LOVE Boletes, especially Kings. (Porcinis). Eating Wormy specimens is obviosuly not appetizing, but if there are only a few, no harm done. One cuts boletes vertically through the whole mushroom to check for the buggers. A little extra protein isn't harmful, but I avoid them in total.

Nor do I eat GILLED mushrooms, at least not yet. Not skilled enough to tell them apart.

IF IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT>.! The adage that saves Ya.

I recommend Californians get into this, we are blessed to have incredible specimens all among us. The envy of Mycologists worldwide.

Best Plan is get two different GOOD Guidebooks. I have Audubon's field book and David Arora's Mushrooms Demystified.

Pot Growers or afficionados are perfect for this hobby. It seems similar to what we do, and the various types also appeal to the connoisseur/collector in all of us.

The Main edible ones I seek and find at the particular piece-o-land that I have access to are:

King Bolete - da best - tastes like a steak.
Zeller's Bolete - really cool black velvety cap - not so flavorful, some people are sensitive to this one.
Slippery Jack (short Stemmed Suillus) - not so good tasting as a King, but prevalent
Chanterelles (rare at this spot) - wish there were more..! Yesterday's was VERY CHUNKY and Super-tasty.
One shroom was enough for an omelet. Dense like an OG Kush nug.. haha..

Later on, the Yellow Foot Chanterelles come out, and can be profuse.
Have seen a couple psychodelics - no desire here.

Uploading pics right now.

[yortbogey]

remember this.... Fire morels...search regrowth along burnout ridge-lines...
and the illustrious shaggy mane...hidden in the meadows..only where the grass blows...
and YES,,,I've been a picker for years....picked It up while @ evergreen

[stasis]

Yes, "It" is a Great Pursuit. I am in love with it. Gonna peel off the skin of a BUNCH of "Short-Stemmed Slippery Jacks" and cook 'em up today. Yesterday, I really enjoyed that chanterelle. It was one of those "Clublike" ones. Very Dense, meaty. Day before, I ate steamed Broccoli w/garlic and a bit of sauteed King Bolete sliced up in there.

Morels are not plentiful in my part of NorCal. I usually don't travel too far to look for Mushies. As long as I see something exciting each time, I am happy. A Bright Amanita, whatever... So, I don;t go too far. Lots of places around here to search. There are 3 or 4 local spots that are accessable, without trespassing. Others know about them, so getting there early is key, if that is where ya want to seek. But, this adjacent property - no one else searches there. No need for "Dawn Patrol," Like surfing in a crowded place. So, I can hide mushrooms until they are moderately mature.

I DID find a great trail the other day, where there was much more variety. Others had been there, definitely though. All the 'Kicker mushrooms" strewn about. Buggy HUGE King Boletes as big as Shaq's Shoes, left aside on the ground.

Lost a King Bolete I hid yesterday, next door. The heavy rains matted down my covering of needles, and now the whole area looks the same. just spent an hour getting wet looking for that Durn B. Edulis. The warm rain does not bother me. Feels like my years on the rainy side of a Hawaiian Island. But, it eluded me.. Most likely it will mold with the rain. May have lost it. But will go out later to look again. It will rise out of the mulch at some point, unless an animal found it, which I doubt. I had hoped to pick it today, and beat the bugs... DOH..! Maybe I will get lucky...

EDIT: Looked again for this monster, but it was not to be found. I think I mistook it for a Yellow veiled Amanita..! Which is now poking thru the duff, in what I think was the same spot. In the future I will insert a stick next to the hidden gem, no one else is around here. Admittedly, I am playing keep-away with the deer.. Pretty deplorable, since I can go to the Food market and they can't...

Shaggy Mane. Don;t see many 'round here. Beautiful 'Shroom, though. Gotta watch OUT with that one. BIG TIME. Natural ANABUSE..! No Alcohol, even days before, it can cause a BAD reaction. Not fatal, but VERY sickening... Can land ya in the Hospital. Coprinus species are the ones Ya gotta watch out w/alcohol. I rarely imbibe, so no worries here.

King Bolete Below.

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[stasis]

Cooked up a goodly portion of Short-stemmed Slippery Jacks (Suillus Brevipes). They sauteed down to a small amount. Another Bolete variety. Pretty pure-white short stems. Slimy dark brown cap. Spongy whitish yello pores when mature. Tight when young. As usual - young ones are better.

One must peel off the slimy top (easily done) or risk minor-moderate gastric upset. Very nice. I read some say they don;t like the mealiness of this 'shroom. Not too bad. Tastes great. Just a few bites, had to restrain myself. 2nd time I ate these.

[stasis]

Short-stemmed Slippery Jacks (Suillus Brevipes). On the right. And the big slimy one in front. The Left ones are a different Suillus - perhaps Slippery Jack.

Good thread. I've taken up mushrooming, quite by accident. Was hiking and wandered into a huge king bolete patch, acres and acres of king boletes , many the size of softballs or larger. And they do taste better than steak. IMO, its one of natures greatest treats and is something that cannot be cultivated, it can only be collected in the wild. I'm hooked.

A word of caution: There are look alikes that can make you real sick that look alot like king boletes. Wont kill you though. I think one is called boletus huroniness. There are so many boletes out there that have subtle differences that are like impossible to find categorized in guidebooks. Eat only a little piece first and wait a few hours before indulging.

Great pastime, it really does slow your gait down and makes for a communion with nature.

If I did go mushrooming, I would have to leave my binoculars behind or I'd be standing there looking up at the trees. I love birding.