Shaggy remains!
As I awoke this morning to snowflakes landing on my frostbitten windows, mushroom season felt far away. Autumn in Vermont is phenomenal yet fleeting, and it is hard to watch the long awaited fall flush shrivel up with the snow.
Still, I am a satisfied forager – after a parched summer, we were lucky to receive as much rain as we did before the cold front moved in. The fall rains brought lion’s mane, winter chanterelles, hedgehogs, maitake, aborted entolomas, oysters, porcini, blewits, honeys, and more. I will never forget my first encounter with the mighty matsutake this fall – now I understand why the Japanese are so crazy about this mushroom that they will pay upwards of $100 for a single prime specimen. How can you even put a price on such an exquisite and elusive woodland delicacy?
It may be snowing in Vermont, but foragers in the southern parts of the region are still enjoying formidable flushes of fall fungi. The brownish fall-fruiting oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) is particularly abundant this year, and it happens to be the tastiest oyster of the season – more savory and tender than the white summer species Pleurotus populinus.
Don’t wait until the frost arrives at your door – now is the time to throw on a sweater and head into the woods. If you put your forager’s eyes to work, you’ll be surprised at how many treasures still await you!
Northeastern ForageCast for the week of November 5, 2012!
I live in Western Mass and this past weekend, I found two hens, a chicken mushroom, and multiple oyster.
Ari, I have to wonder what awaits this site for winter months. I enjoy reading and hope it continues through the mycelium is scarce on cooler nights with less light. I have heard that the Beefsteak mushroom can be found in the snowy
months. (?) Your take is always respected.
George, I typically don’t post as actively during the winter, but I will still post occasional musings on foraging, recipes, and other relevant news. I have never found the beefsteak mushroom in the winter, but I do occasionally find enokitake. And, of course, winter is a great time to hunt the medicinal chaga.
Ari,
I have been day-dreaming lately of the mushroom season beginning again. We have 100 shiitake logs that are under snow just waiting to burst come the spring. Also can’t wait for the activity to start up on your blog again.
Spring is hanging in there. I did go out walking in the woods Sunday morning. Deer, ducks, geese, spiders and catapillars all out enjoying the nice weather. Did see a nice size bear track crossing the Belmont dirt road going to the Belmont reservoir in Hinsdale, MA. Great stroll for anyone if your in the area. Still we wait for the morels and dryads to star popping up along with the fiddleheads, ramps, cowslips, nettles, cattails and others from there winter beds. Its about that time. Mother Nature just doesn,t know it yet. Happy Foraging!!!!
Dave, Sorry I missed this comment. I can’t wait for the season to begin – I am very optimistic that it’s going to be a good year for foraging!