[zora]

Thanks! Just what do they taste like?

[Ganoderma]

Reishi have a bitter taste.

[Evan]

I never find Reishi in that stage. They are normally short stalked and already have a large cap, but even then they seem very fresh. The last one I picked, I air dried whole without any complications. It's sitting here on the desk in all it's dehydrated glory.

[zora]

I have a couple dried ones sitting on my fireplace. They are pretty that way.

[Evan]

Well, even after the 3+ inches of rain last week, we still found almost nothing. A few russulas. Nothing else. Yesterday we were at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster and found several interesting things. While on the boat ride we spotted what looks like a lepiota. We walked over and got a picture afterwards, but I haven't had time to look it up. We also saw a green heron, two very large caterpillars, a huge bullfrog, and a diamondback terrapin. Not too bad for an amusement park.

It was nice seeing a few friendly faces last weekend at the wine festival I worked at. Zora and her husband Larry, and Dave and Karen stopped by and brought me some delicious chants. Thanks, guys. I made a chanterelle cream sauce for some chicken breast. It was awesome.

[zora]

That was a great weekend! Dave identified over 70 mushrooms. I know we had around 15 edibles maybe more. Dave will be posting pictures, mine did not turn out well at all. We enjoyed the wine feast Evan! Will probably see you there next year too. Glad you enjoyed the chants. You have to try to come out a little early next year so you can hunt them with me. Went out today and found next to nothing. We have not had rain since last week and I think we are moving into the fall mushrooms here. I don't expect to see anymore chants. So sad. The best thing we found last weekend were really black trumpets. Yummy.

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[Dave W]

Ha!!! In the one pic I can see the chant that I was trying to poke with the stick. That's one big Hedgehog... Sometimes the cahnts keep coming all the way until October. Not common, but I've seen it.

[Evan]

Finally got the picture downloaded of the chant cream sauce over chicken. Of course, the chicken is drowned in chanterelles.

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[Dave W]

Knew those chants were in good hands.

Here's a real interesting find.... Craterellus cinereus. Aside from the well-developed fertile surface, these look like Black Trumpets. That's what I thought they were. First time I've seen this type in the flesh. It's in Phillips... page 216.




Just goes to show a few things... When you step outside your usual mushroom stomping grounds, be prepared for a few surprises. And... Mushrooms are humbling.

We finally got some rain these past few days. Found a few Russulas and a small group of Cinnabar Chants today.... in damp mossy spots along a creek.

[zora]

That looks great Evan!
What a shame those weren't black trumpets. So disappointing. They smelled so good.

[zora]

which book is phillips?

[Dave W]

Phillips is "Mushrooms of North America" by Roger Phillips. I didn't bring it along because it's kinda bulky. You can find a lot of what is in the book at rogersmushrooms online. Phillips says C. cinereus is known form the Great Lakes area. So this may be a rare find in your neck of the woods, zora. Disappointing it wasn't Trumpets, but interesting that is was C. cinereus.

[zora]

I will have to order that one. When I moved up here, that spot was the first I hunted. And it never lets me down. And since I do always find so much there, I rarely make it to other sites to explore. I run out of time before I get to new places. And there are so many places to go out here. Even when I go to new places, I just don't do as well. But you have to love it. The first time Larry and I walked those woods we found chanterelles and I have been there ever since. If only I could find morels in there. And I do really believe they have to be there. I just haven't hit it right yet. The weather is a little different here. It is cooler and that throws me off in morel season. Maybe it throws them off too! By the way I did find 1 true trumpet there one time. I haven't found them since.

[mushroom mary]

why would you be disappointed they weren't black trumpets? David Arora says they are as good or better than C cornucopioides and they are delectable...what more do you want?

[Dave W]

I think maybe the other side of the road from your chant spot may be better for morels. There's more Tulip Polar and White Ash trees over there. Look for south-facing slopes where these types of trees dominate.

Also, you may want to check that area where we followed a path through spruce/hemlock/pine up along a creek.... maybe in mid-September. If you get the right conditions, I think there may be some Boletus edulis to find in this area. There were also a few other really good boletes in that spot when we walked it... Gyroporus castaneus (Chestnut), Gyroporus cyanescens (Bluing). These are each top-notch edible boletes and are sometimes found in good numbers.

Don't forget to check the ground around that big oak stump that I pointed out to Larry... across the road on the way back to the car from the chant spot. Start looking in maybe a week or two. Looked like a good Hen spot to me.