Back in between the four thornless blackberry bushes and somewhere in the wood mulch, Emma discovered some morel mushrooms growing. Since our yard has a bevy of random mushrooms growing here and there, I initially just figured she found something equally inedible. A few years back, I found a large shroom growing under the dogwood tree. I never did really figure out what it was, but I wasn't going to take my chances.
This time, however, it was pretty clear what was growing. They fit the classic description and, when I cut them open, the morels were hollow inside. They couldn't have been anything else. I was actually planning on "planting" morel spawn to have our own patch, but I guess I don't need to now, depending on how many more we get, of course. I left a few out there to hopefully propagate (or whatever that type of mushroom does).
In any case, we had a delicious morel, garlic cream sauce on our pasta last night. We're not dead yet so that's a good sign. I have to say, we're pretty damn lucky.
Do you have edible mushroom growing in your yard (on purpose or otherwise)?
9 comments:
I've heard that in France every pharmacist is a trained mycologist and will identify wild harvested mushrooms. France is so civilized that way. Congrats on your bounty!
Over 30 years ago, when we lived in Seattle for a short time, we found morels growing in the neighbor's ash pile (from their fireplace) which was actually in our yard (very narrow space between the houses). We had never seen them before, but succeeded as you did in identifying, eating, and enjoying them. I believe that I read that they like to grow in the ashes from wildland fires, and unlike most other wild mushrooms, they appear in the spring instead of the late summer and fall. So if you burn wood, try mixing a healthy dose of clean wood ash where you intend to sow morel spores.
They will be more likely to reappear if you pinch them off (or cut them) close to ground level rather than pull them out. Put them in a mesh bag to carry as you search for more and some spores may drop through and give chance for more to grow in the future. In addition to ashy areas, dead or dying elms are a good place to look for them. I love morels...tasty, and the search is fun, too.
Leslie said it well! Cutting them off above the ground also leaves cleaner mushrooms for you to enjoy! Our farm fields give us some yummy things, but the season doesn't start for a while here.
we have them in two spots :) I was really excited when I found them last year :)
"I left a few out there to hopefully propagate (or whatever that type of mushroom does)."
Exactly the right thing, the right way. Good on ya.
oh, my, you are RICH! so very jealous!
This is so timely and strange - yesterday I posted on my blog about the mistake I made accepting so-called "early morels" for true morels. It looks like you have the true variety - lucky bitch!
http://newtofarmlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/mushroom-mistake-win-some-lose-some.html
Yes. We innoculated some logs with Shi'take spores, and we harvested several pounds last year, which we deydrated and use in soups and stews. They're delicious!
I would love to know more about wild mushroom foraging, though, and it's on our "to do" list ;).
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