Tag Archives: mushrooms

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On Thursday late morning I looked up at something white in a very tall tree on the east side of Highway One in downtown Gualala. And I had my long lens camera with me, though my photos could be clearer. Until I focused my camera I didn't realize there were two Bald Eagles - they were standing so close together.

They seemed very interested with the comings and goings of the humans far below. I entitled the first photo, "Watching over Gualala." The female is bigger than the male, so I think she is perched behind the male. What a treat to see them!

It's warm (low 60's) with thin high clouds today. Mushrooms are appearing. On a forage this morning I found two matsutakes (one over the hill), two clumps of sweet tooth hedgehogs, the first bellybutton hedgehog and a handful of candy caps. Gifts from the forest.

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Though it's quite cold, there is a nice bloom of Boletus edulis along the Mendonoma Coast. Many foragers have been at Salt Point State Park where it is legal to forage as long as you only take five pounds a day. Catherine Miller found some of the first king boletes of the season on November 9th.

Boletus edulis arrive by Catherine Miller

Rick and I had our first taste of the year this week, making a porcini omelet for breakfast yesterday. YUM!

David Arora says that, even with the cold weather (36 degrees at our house this morning), we should see more boletes, though not as many as we would get with more normal weather. He says the cold weather will keep them hard and free from bugs. I'll be looking for Queen boletes on our property soon.

Thanks to Catherine for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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After one of our recent storms, Wendy Bailey found this branch down in her garden. It's beautifully decorated with Lichens and Turkey Tails.

Belly Button Hedgehogs are up, as are Winter Chanterelles. I've had a report that Sweet Tooth Hedgehogs are appearing too. And the first Black Trumpets. Here is a photo by Eric Kritz taken a few years ago of my friend, Rachel Kritz, holding a Sweet Tooth Hedgehog, a delicious edible mushroom.

And here Rick shows you the difference between a huge Sweettooth and the smaller Belly Buttons.

Thanks to Wendy and Eric for allowing me to share their photos with you here. Happy foraging!