Tag Archives: wild mushrooms Sonoma County

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Jane Jarlsberg found these Oyster Mushrooms the day before Thanksgiving. She brought them to a friend's home to add to the celebratory feast. They are exceptionally frilly for Oysters but no less delicious.

Yesterday Rick and I found two beautiful King Boletes, Boletus edulis. You can see the sponge underneath the cap is still white, indicating it fruited recently. With age the sponge turns yellow.

And this morning, under threatening skies, we found a small Queen Boletus, Boletus aereus. The very dark top was nearly munched off, perhaps by a Deer. But the stem was sturdy and pristine. Fresh mushroom for the Jackson household tonight!

Thanks to Jane for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

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Robert Scarola photographed the first sunset of 2012 and a lovely one it was. Yesterday the Mendonoma Coast basked in warm sunshine. The temperature climbed to 70 degrees at our house in Anchor Bay, very unusual for wintertime. Today the warmth and sun has disappeared and light rain is falling. But our memories of the glorious first day of the year remain.

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

Wild mushrooms continue to fruit. There has been a second bloom of Matsutakes, nearly a month after the first one.

 Bellybutton Hedgehogs continue to fruit in abundance.

 And they make for some mighty fine eating!

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Hydnum umbilicatum is the Latin name for the Belly-button Hedgehog. It's considered a beginner's mushroom because it has no bad look-a-likes. Instead of gills, it has slender teeth. Lucky for us lovers of fungi, it doesn't bite!

 Rick and I enjoy these mushrooms with egg dishes. Delish!

 When I got close to the Hedgehog below to photograph it, I found the first Winter Chanterelles, Craterellus tubaeformis, growing next to it. Surprise!  This edible mushroom is also called Yellowfoot, Funnel Chanterelle and Winter Mushroom. These are babies and they will grow in the days to come.

Wild mushrooms are a treat from Mother Nature!