Adventures in Mushroom Hunting... With The Great Ethan & Cheryl Allen!

Cheryl after 7 miles on the trail. 

Yesterday,  Cheryl was tired of being bored at home and talked me into hunting for Mushrooms.  The Weather has been a Roller Coaster lately, but I thought it may be possible to find something coming up... even if it is a little early by Michigan Standards.   The Truth is the only mushroom I know of at this time of year is the Moral.   And we have never found any here in Iowa.  Perhaps the latitude,  the Lack of Public Land,  or just the Lack of knowledge in where to search...  but Cheryl and I have practically given up on ever finding them.

Black Mushroom in Spring..
Good Chance it is edible.

So many other Tasty Choices!

Back in Michigan, we had several spots that were very bountiful... on certain years.  We would hit those spots first and if we found a few, we would expand.   But here in Iowa,   NOTHING!  Besides,  It took coming to Iowa to discover Boletes, Chanterelles, Oysters, Brittlegills, Lobsters and many many more!   I think losing a mushroom that only appears two weeks out of the year...  and in only small numbers,  for a HUGE variety and number  of other edible species is worth it.

Black Trumpets!

Old Man Of The Woods.

I vaguely remember a few other mushrooms that might have been possible this time of year.   Namely:  The black Trumpet.   A small, black, chanterelle-looking mushroom that is a choice edible.  If there were no Morels out, perhaps we could find a few of these. There was also the possibility of the Old-Man-Of-The-Woods.   A black Bolete that is fairly distinguishable.   I had yet to find either of these species, but both were black mushrooms.   Black Mushrooms in Spring should be edible...  as a (very) General rule...

Cheryl and I were a little scared when we saw the entire Parking lot filled with cars!   So many people out walking during the House Arrest.   We found parking and hurried off the trail and into the woods, where we were certain no one would follow or bump into us.

Kinda Looks Like a Trumpet!
Difficult to spot!

Cheryl is Ready! 

Imagine our surprise when we found a black trumpet shaped fungi!   It looks slightly different from what we both remembered from the book, but it was black, it was funnel shaped, and it was growing in the spring... in moss!   We figured we would throw it in the basket for later Identification if it was not the Black Trumpet. ( But what else could it possibly Be????)

Scarlet Cup. A Bright Jewel
on the Forest Floor

And then a Cluster of them! In Moss!

Later we found a cluster of them!   I was beginning to get excited now.   There were also lots of Scarlet Cup Mushrooms around.  Very pretty and rather large for their species.  It must have been prime conditions for them.

There were plenty to find. 

The black mushrooms proved to be very difficult to find.  I managed to find a few more..( also a good sign that they might be the black trumpet....as they are solitary and hard to spot)  After an hour or so of Cheryl's complaining,  we decided to head home and ID our Small Prizes.

Not a Black Trumpet. 

Alas,  my dreams of finding another edible mushroom were dashed when we discovered they were actually the Devil's Cup Mushroom. (Urnula craterium).   They are, I guess, edible.  However, their flavor is nothing to write home about.  and their texture is not stunning either.   We decided not to "try" them and find out for ourselves.   I have eaten "questionable" mushrooms before and they were not"bad"...  But really not very good either.  It is funny how texture and flavor play a role in the edibility.  Mostly, I just make sure they are not poison... but even if they are safe to eat...  it does not mean you want to eat them.  ( i.e. Chicken Fat Mushroom...  Tastes ok...Awful texture!)

We found seven total.  I'm Not
going to eat them...

Early indicators of the Overall
Mushroom Season...  Good Signs!

The book suggests that the Morels should be popping up soon though.   These Scarlet cups and Devil's Cups are the vanguard.   They have already found Morels south of us, so maybe with a little warmer weather, we will look again.  Also,  According to the Book,  the Black Trumpet usually makes an appearance in late summer-mid fall.

Too many People!

With a little luck,  we will be able to forage away from people.   Check out the number of folks on the path!   Normally there are not this many.   If the Governor tells people they can't go outside,  I'm thinking there will be a rebellion!   Perhaps other States are going to find that out as well.    Thanks for stopping in.