Last week I got to go on a "walkabout" with the other volunteers from Jackson Bottom Wetland and 2 experienced mushroom hunters. We found MANY different fungi, including the 2 very interesting ones I have in pictures below. The boletus edulis is also known as porcini (Italian for "little pig"). I was very excited to see so many, and such big ones! Because they are so tasty, other critters like to eat them as well: maggots, centipedes, slugs, etc... so it is important to pick only firm specimens, and to remove as many of the interlopers as possible while you are still in the field. I brought a bagful home and sauteed them in butter and olive oil before freezing them for later.
Boletus edulis
We also came upon a whole mini-forest of poisonous toadstools! The brightest ones were Amanita muscaria. These can cause hallucinations, but they also can make a person very ill. Very pretty, though!
Amanita muscaria
Was thinking of training Chi, but she'd probably want a share of the proceeds in Greenies...
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