musing myco-logically

i was just thinking the other day that my neighbours untreated but occasionally mown lawn looked like a mini version of many a farmers field post-haymaking. as well as cypress (sadly so common in gardens) hes also got native hazel and box in his hedge.

a couple of weeks later, having forgotten all about my silly daydream, i glanced over the fence and was delighted to see several tasty Parasol Mushrooms (lepiota procera) growing in the "meadow" beside his "hedgerow".

often found both them and the similar Shaggy Parasol in pasture or at woodland edges but this is the first time ive found them in a garden in the inner city.

its probably not uncommon though. just goes to show the effectiveness of spore dispersal by the wind.




they went really well with some bacon.



ben

Edited by ben rigsby

hi keith, yes the giant puffball is another great free food resource. they are very common hereabouts too. you have to find young "kid leather" specimens rather than the older "spongy" ones though eh? the latter just fall apart when you try to cut them!
amazing how giant puffball shrinks in the pan too.

going back to the parasols of my original post, when i discovered them i was sorely tempted to search my garden for an obliging bufo bufo specimen to plant beside the mushrooms. it probably wouldnt have been hard to find one.

for a crap joke i could have had a pic captioned TOAD AND TOADSTOOL.

thankfully, the urge was defeated.

happy herping (and foraging),

ben

Edited by ben rigsby