I have been into mushrooms for my whole life. Picking them in the cow pasture when I was very young. A few years back I tried to cultivate some in my house as I have a room that I thought was good, but it gets too dry. I have inoculated logs and managed some very minimal output. Dry spells tend to last too long where I live.
A few days before now, I was out walking the dogs in a big open dog park. It is very big and there are lots of places where there are no trails and are rather wild. I met a lady and they did not have a dog with them, and seemed to be hanging out in the trees. She was actually standing by the biggest Oak tree I have ever seen, with a trunk size of over 8 feet in diameter. I approached and asked what they were doing. They replied that they were hunting for mushrooms, particularly the rare Lions Mane. I was stunned as I did not think they grew wild in my area. She warmed me of ground wasps and not to venture too far off worn trails as she had been swarmed a couple months earlier.
Last night there was a nice heavy rain. This morning was 95% humidity so, no better time for mushrooms. I decided to take the dogs to the dog park for a run. This time I did not take my regular path and took some more "in the woods" paths. Of course I was looking for mushrooms, and now that I know there are many in the area, I start to notice all the fungi growing just off the main trails. When I am walking it is more like a high speed march, as I need the workout as well. I am looking side to side along the trail and walk by but go back to see some "white blobs" I noticed. It took a moment to register.
There just a few meters off the trail were two large white blobs of fuzz, or that is what they look like from a little ways away. I go up to them and sure enough, the one rare mushroom I did not think I would ever see, let alone pick, a couple of Bears' Head. Looking them over and not being prepared, I took one of them. I think it was the smallest one, which fit nicely in my hand. Walking the dogs uses up your hands very quickly if you have more than one dog. Now I have one very nice mushroom in one hand and two dog leashes in the other. Around the parking lot area, the dogs have to be on a leash. This means two 45 lb dogs on leashes with one hand and a fragile dust and dirt magnet in the other. I managed, and got home with my prize.
Now to look up how to cook it best and enjoy the new taste experience.
Best
