I think of The Prince, Agaricus augustus, as a summer mushroom. With the dry weather we've been having on the Coast, this mushroom has bloomed early.
Mark Hancock recently photographed a group of them on the Gualala Arts Center grounds. In the first photo you see Mark's hand to give you the scale.
Gifts of the forest! Thanks to Mark for allowing me to share his photos with you here.
Agaricus augustus, The Prince, continues to make its royal appearance. Rick and I saw a new group of this edible mushroom growing just off our road in Anchor Bay. They are having a long fruiting season this year. Irma Brandt photographed these on the last day in May. She called them soldiers on Memorial Day.
Thanks to Irma for allowing me to share her photo with you here.
Update: The paper wasp nest that took over one of our birdhouses has been wiped out, probably by a skunk. I'll post a photo tomorrow.
Rick and I saw the first one a few days ago in the same spot alongside our road where we found them last year. Yesterday afternoon the first button was joined by a second one. And this morning a third one was just peeking up through the redwood duff. The Prince, an edible mushroom, has made its first appearance of the year.
We'll let these mushrooms grow a bit before picking them for our dinner. Agaricus augustus grows in many parts of the world and is known for its almond aroma.
May is a beautiful time for coastal gardens. Hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas thrive here. Here is a peek at a portion of my garden in bloom. The bees are loving the blossoms and so am I!
Ken Holmes recently found a beautiful wild mushroom, the edible Agaricus augustus, also known as The Prince. It grows in humus rich soils. Oddly enough it often appears at edges of roads. The mushroom has a strong almond odor and it is good to eat. I also admire it for its beauty.
Thanks to Ken for allowing me to share his photo with you. Here's a link to another photo of this mushroom on this blog: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/06/11/royalty-has-arrived-on-the-mendonoma-coast-the-prince-agaricus-augustus-a-delicious-mushroom/
The late rains have coaxed The Prince to bloom. Agaricus augustus is a delicious, meaty wild mushroom with a wonderful almond odor. I found one lone Prince on our road this past week but Jacquelynn Baas of The Sea Ranch hit the big time and sent me a photo to prove it. In fact she has found so many Prince mushrooms that - get this - she is tired of eating them fresh and is going to dry this batch. I can only shake my head in admiration.
Jacquelynn is an accomplished writer and you can find out more about her books at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Jacquelynn-Baas/e/B001IU0Q28/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0