It was premature September…just after Labor Day and my wife and I…geezer and geezerette…decided to execute a bit of late summer camping at the favorite spot of ours, Housatonic Meadows State Park, a bit above Cornwall Bridge in upper western Connecticut. The weather conditions can get a bit nippy at night that time of year in northern CT, but the occasions might be only grand together with the river water remains tolerably warm and the trout are still hungry as well as, very well, it’s an ideal moment to camp…hardly some individuals there. Without a doubt, a few bowhunters and weekend overnighters but the hunters are well-behaved and the weekenders can be sociable and we have met people which are nice there.

I started to be curious, initially, in fungi in the Kettletown S. P. on the lower Housatonic River. We have been there but twice as well as the first time we were fairly high for a hill above the river and the weather was warm and damp…good for fungi to thrive…and, although we were not “into” mushrooming at that time, we kept stumbling upon these beautiful and varied organisms…you cannot actually call them plants…I think I counted aproximatelly 18 distinct species in the place of ninety minutes, just walking within a hundred yards of our campsite! And this kind of variety…different colors and textures and forms and odors…I was dazzled by the display. I can’t recall the time of the summer months that we were there, but we looked to capture the fungi growing season at its peak! Effectively, I was hooked and later that summer was provided a birthday present of the National Audubon Society’s FIELD GUIDE TO MUSHROOMS by my beautiful lady…and now, I’m never in the woods without it.

But I digress…back to this past September as well as the Housatonic Meadows…I was taking a brief walk under the hemlocks, both dead…huge and alive trees. The floors of the woods was clear of dense brush and very open. The sun was filtering from the top boughs as well as the forest was dappled in sun and shade. I saw several Slimy Gomphidius along with a couple of King Boletes…very advisable that you eat… and also a couple of others…oh indeed, including a small group of Yellow Fairy Cups…don’t laugh!!! they are quite a standout! They are discovered in the Audubon book under Slimes, Jellies and Crustlike Fungi…I am not kidding!!! Anyhow, suddenly I see a mushroom which almost took my breath away. I am aware, I know..that sounds somewhat with the top, though it surely was a sight…a snow-white, healthy mushroom. The stalk was about 7 inches in height as well as the top (cap) of the mushroom was close to 5 inches across and practically flat, making it appear to be much bigger. It may be fanciful to say the mushroom looked proud, though the term seems fitting and appropriate. The way it stood out from the dull surroundings…the unsightly leaves and small branches and twigs and hemlock needles..it was simply spectacular!!

I had no clue what it was then and hastily started to leaf with the book to test and find it. I discovered a few of probable searching candidates in the book and after that began to check out the fungus more carefully, withouf disturbing it. One thing I do know…I’d never come across this fungus before. I saw, with ease, a cup like condition that surround the foundation of the stalk and that started to narrow the choices…a veil toward the roof of the stalk…like a thin membrane. the stalk itself was a bit of scaly and seemed to be….I guess fluffy is mushroom bad for liver (visit this weblink) the perfect word It didn’t take longer and I quickly decided I would found my 1st Amanita virosa…in English: THE DESTROYING ANGEL! A very apt name, because, in accordance with the book, it’s “deadly”. Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps…kidney and/or liver dysfunction follow and also, with no treatment, can result in death…I am quoting the book.

My three, fairly young, grandchildren were at the campground later that day and I took them on another “mushroom walk” and showed them the Amanita and drummed into their heads how innocent-looking and beautiful things can easily be extremely, terrible for you. I, of course, had them them cleanse carefully after returning from the walk…they had handled some other mushrooms which I believed were benign. But I want to them to get used to taking precautions. I genuinely think that they were amazed with the learning experience the walk provided. Days later on they continue to commented on the experience…When they’re a tad older, I am going to relate to them that they are descendants of John and William Bartram, the very first botanists in this country…but therein sits another story.

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• 12/11/2021
• un messaggio di: Amore
• Da: samschweizer439