With autumn rains continuing, and it not being too cold yet, we are still getting lots and lots of fungi of all sorts popping up. New varieties every week, almost. This coral fungus is amazing.
Last week I saw on the Postcards TV show that someone was running "picking wild mushrooms" tours on the Mornington Peninsula. I'm sure there are enough on our property to feed about a hundred people, but in the back of my mind is the story about author Nicholas Evans who, in late 2008, ate wild mushrooms in Scotland (along with several of his family) and they all became severely ill. The ultimate long-term effect was a total loss of kidney function, with no idea of when or if they might recover. So I'm leaving ours alone, as I have no references that will accurately tell me what I can eat and what I can't (and I'm not that keen on mushies anyway).
Initially, most of the fungi growing were huge (and still are) but now all the tiny ones are coming out, both white and orange. You have to look closely to see them.
And these are some of the sundews that are also growing in large patches. We also have the ones with the red edges but those photos didn't come out clearly enough.
With autumn rains continuing, and it not being too cold yet, we are still getting lots and lots of fungi of all sorts popping up. New varieties every week, almost. This coral fungus is amazing.
Last week I saw on the Postcards TV show that someone was running "picking wild mushrooms" tours on the Mornington Peninsula. I'm sure there are enough on our property to feed about a hundred people, but in the back of my mind is the story about author Nicholas Evans who, in late 2008, ate wild mushrooms in Scotland (along with several of his family) and they all became severely ill. The ultimate long-term effect was a total loss of kidney function, with no idea of when or if they might recover. So I'm leaving ours alone, as I have no references that will accurately tell me what I can eat and what I can't (and I'm not that keen on mushies anyway).
Initially, most of the fungi growing were huge (and still are) but now all the tiny ones are coming out, both white and orange. You have to look closely to see them.
And these are some of the sundews that are also growing in large patches. We also have the ones with the red edges but those photos didn't come out clearly enough.
3 comments:
Hi Sherryl
It is a good move to buy your Mushrooms from the Fruit and Vegie Shop.
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Nobody eats the lovely Coral Fungi.
The second one looks to me like one I have seen here, with a soft waxy coating on top which rubs off. But it had white gills. Never eat those ones.
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The little greyish ones are probably Mycena species of some sort.
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Stay safe. Enjoy your Fungi through the camera lens.
Cheers
Denis
I have read some of the expert books and even some of the fungi that are edible need quite a lot of prep, or they will be the wrong texture. Edibles one can also be off, old or have worms. Also I learned that some edibles are fine for most folks and then just like anything some folks can be sensitive to some "edible" fungi. So while we too live where many grow after the rains we stick to marveling over them, photographing and trying to figure if we really do know what they are. We even followed the instructions for making spore prints...part of thorough identification, but again, not with eating in mind.
As the saying goes..."there are no old bold fungi eaters."
Yes, that saying sounds very sensible to me! Thanks for all your comments. I often think the prettiest ones are very likely the least tasty anyway.
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