Mycology is not only filled with endless botanical names, but there are also special words to describe the life cycle of many fungi. Marcescence, the quality of being able to rehydrate after drying on the stem is a feature of the genus Marasmius.
A very rainy, cool-weather spring and summer have made this genus the dominant find in several mushroom walks.
The annual Clark-Rogerson Foray is an event that brings many well-known mycologists together for a long weekend of finding, identifying, studying and eating wild mushrooms.
My original plan was to learn one group of mushrooms at a time, but sometimes you have to take the knowledge any way it comes.
This is what comes to my mind when I hear the word “blackberry,”
while most of the world thinks of this as a blackberry:
Sometimes I’m amused by the bizarre use of nature words in a high-tech context. Sometimes I find the whole disconnect upsetting.
Right now it’s hard to feel anything but joy while embracing the bounty of sun-ripened berries.
Having a Master of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism, I don’t bother with what passes for news. I know better. This season, I’m too busy foraging and farming to keep up with my notebook, let alone my computer.
But when it comes to feedback from my readers, I cannot ignore the fact that survival is the “top of mind awareness” concern for people who didn’t plan to be in a survival situation.
Regardless of what media pundits, corporate executives or government leaders argue, certain basic laws of nature prevail. Every living being needs, shelter, water, warmth and nutrition.
Shelter comes first for a very good reason. (more…)
This is an improved version of the blueberry pie recipe I first posted in 2006.
Frozen blueberries (see * below for freezing) often result in a runny pie filling. I discovered that tapioca starch (sometimes called tapioca flour), works better than cornstarch to control the texture of the filling. Be sure to get powdered tapioca, not the spherical pearls.
Lemon juice also helps to control the texture.
I should have taken a photo, but the pie was a big hit and consumed when it still warm. Here’s the recipe: (more…)
I’m amazed at the amount of valuable information uploaded by people who love the outdoors as I do and have the ability to invent or modify equipment that makes bushcraft even more rewarding.
Kudos and a million thanks to:
Hammock Forums – I thought I was a hammock enthusiast. The people who post here have already solved some of my hammock use questions.
Trail Gear – I love the idea of J. Falk’s bushwhacker stove. He’s produced several videos to show how it works.
Ever since I discovered Foraging New England by Tom Seymour
This is the only field guide – right now the only book – I carry with me.
So there I was, waiting my turn at the DMV, when the photo – and Seymour’s description of Quickweed (Galinsoga ciliata) connected in my brain. I’ve been staring at this plant every Wednesday when I harvest or weed.
Some mushrooms reproduce by “blowing their tops.” The covering flap or lid of ascomycetes in the genera Pezizales or cup fungi are typical operculate ascomycetes.
I’m just beginning to understand mushroom reproduction. Ascomycetes typically drop the spores from their sack-like ascus. A bit of online reasearch produced this coherent description of operculate fungi:
” . . . the operculate cup-fungi eject their spores through an opening in the ascus apex formed by an irregular tear, an apical split, or an apical to sub-apical flap or lid-like structure, the operculum (from which the group obtains its name) . . .”
I used the keywords operculate fungi mushrooms which brought up a link to downloadable document entitled:
CUP FUNGI of the Pacific Northwest
by Ian Gibson, 2007
Copyright 2008, Pacific Northwest Key Council
Operculate is not the only fungi-related word I learned the last time I went into the field with Gary Lincoff. So I’m hitting the books before heading back out into the field.
The two really seem to go together. Discovering one waterfall is a blessing; discovering another waterfall and swimming hole in a totally different location is magic.
I’m not telling where this is or where I found abundant black trumpets.
I’m not going to reveal where this is:
Natural swimming holes are a blessing. It’s why I haven’t been online in several days.
I’m heading back there with my swim suit and a hammock.