A deadly mushroom has appeared on the Mendonoma coast.

Ron Champoux found several Death Caps, Amanita phalloides, growing on The Sea Ranch. They are big, beautiful, and quite deadly if consumed.

ron-champoux-with-a-death-cap-mushroom-by-jill-silliphantRon's smiling, but he knows not to eat it! I used to be afraid to touch one of the deadly three mushrooms, but at a mushroom forage with David Arora, I saw him handle a Death Cap without a care in the world. So Ron isn't putting himself in harm's way by handling this Death Cap. Still, I'd wash my hands thoroughly to be on the safe side.

We have rain coming in tonight, after a string of six days without the wet stuff. And you know what rain brings - mushrooms, and hopefully they will be the edible kind.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here.