Lovely Blewits And Shaggys.

[chazzpott]

I went foraging over my local country park at the weekend and found a large amount of Field Blewits and Shaggy Ink Caps. I have also noticed field blewits in places where I have not seen them before. There are also loads of shaggys locally. Has anybody else noticed this? In view of the apparently poor year generally for terrestrial shrooms, I find this odd. During my forage I also collected Macrolepiota rhacodes, Lepista nuda and a few Puffballs. Although it was a bit of a dank and dreary day, I returned home with a lovely basket of choice edibles More for supper tonight, and a few for the freezer. Happy foraging

[sarah64]

That's great Chazzpott! There have been a large amount of Shaggy Ink Caps on my patch, so it looks like a good year for the old Shaggys.

I haven't found a field blewitt before, only wood blewitts in past years but always too afraid to try because they can cause an alergic reaction in some people. How do you find them Chazz?

[chazzpott]

It's not easy spotting field blewits as they grow in grass and are fairly low down. Added to that if the grass has fallen leaves on it, they can be almost impossible to see, as the caps are a fawny-brown and you can't see the blue stems However, you can see the darker green grass of the circle these shrooms usually grow in. The best bet is to choose a likely piece of pasture and cover it methodically. Also check out field and wood edges. I've been out this afternoon and found some more! There's loads of em round my neck of the woods Good luck and happy foraging

[Nick_in_Scotland]

This year I've seen Shaggy Ink Caps, Shaggy Parasols and puffballs, not in great abundance but the conditions must be right for them. The last year the weather was this dry (in 2003) I noticed there were loads of False Chanterelles but this year they have been completely absent. Actually, now I think about it this is extremely strange because I have not recorded one False Chanterelle this year but in all the past years they one of the most common mushrooms I see.

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by Nick_in_Scotland

Actually, now I think about it this is extremely strange because I have not recorded one False Chanterelle this year but in all the past years they one of the most common mushrooms I see.

Same here, normally I see hundreds of them but this year nothing, also only found 2 Bay Boletes, the last couple of years I could of picked loads. Only 3 Ceps too which is the real killer for me.

[NickCantle]

Yeah Stew, you're renowned for your productive patches. Let's hope next season will be immense

[Stewy]

Hope so, on another forum someone was saying about a 3 year cycle and this was due to be a bad year but dunno if theres any truth in it.

[NickCantle]

I heard that somewhere too actually. As you say though, the element of truth is unknown. probably untrue, just a bit of wishful thinking

[chazzpott]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Hope so, on another forum someone was saying about a 3 year cycle and this was due to be a bad year but dunno if theres any truth in it.

Which forum did you see that on, Stewy?

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by chazzpott

Which forum did you see that on, Stewy?

Downsizer: for a sustainable & ethical future

[chazzpott]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Downsizer: for a sustainable & ethical future

Many thanks, Stewy

[Nick_in_Scotland]

I just find it fascinating how some species appear to be abundant on some years and absent on other years. Maybe each species has its own cycle. Maybe it all depends on a whole range of environmental factors. I suppose the fungi are there all the time i.e. the mycelium underground but the factors which make them decide when to fruit must be extremely complicated. I can't figure it out. As far as I'm concerned the only predictable thing about mushrooms is their unpredictability.

[sarah64]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Same here, normally I see hundreds of them but this year nothing, also only found 2 Bay Boletes, the last couple of years I could of picked loads. Only 3 Ceps too which is the real killer for me.

Yeah we haven't seen many Bay Boletes either. Hey but guess what, I found about 5 ceps today. Unfortunately I was a little late and they weren't good for eating (managed to salvage 1 for the pot). So now at least I've established a patch at last. What do you reckon the chances are that there may be more next Saturday? We had good rain on Sunday 28 October and according to the 2 week rule, there should be some more shouldn't there?

I had visited this patch on 20 October and didn't see any Ceps but did see quite a few Fly Agarics so I had a hunch I was in the right area.

Also found some Oyster, which again was too old, but at least I know to keep an eye on the tree for future crops. I'm well pleased!!

[NickCantle]

I wouldn't get your hopes up for Ceps next Saturday! My Trumpet Chanterelle patch has taken two weeks to even start looking like a patch That doesn't include them growing much either. I still think they need another few weeks.

Nick

[sarah64]

I know what you mean Nick, this are moving very, very slowly this season... yawn!!
BTW what are Trumpet Chanterelle?

[NickCantle]

Trumpet Chanterelles are a more common and less esteemed variety of Cantharellus. Cantharellus Tubaeformis. They are still yummmmy and Mikeakabigman, Cybershot and I are going to be rolling in them

Do a Google search

Nick

[sarah64]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Trumpet Chanterelles are a more common and less esteemed variety of Cantharellus. Cantharellus Tubaeformis. They are still yummmmy and Mikeakabigman, Cybershot and I are going to be rolling in them

Do a Google search

Nick

Oh you lucky things! I've never found any of these. They're really hard to spot aren't they. I know them as the Winter Chanterelle.

[NickCantle]

Aha!!! That makes sense