It’s around this time of year that I start taking more exploritory drives into the forest looking for the first of the autumn mushrooms. This time last year I think we’d had the right weather and a few pine mushrooms were feasted upon. I thought with the bit of moisture we’d had of late that our fungus friends would have popped their heads from out of the soil. I was so sure I packed my box of supplies for an immediate mushroom cook up in the field. But as hard I looked (and trust me I looked in all the spots I know)….Nada!
So I dropped into Graceview and had a chat with my mate JB, made more plans for the big veg patch and picked up some eggs from our chooks. A little fry up with chorizo, thyme and garlic, not exaclty what I had in mind but a nice substitute. With my belly happy I drove around looking for dream properties and well…..generally dreaming. The light was fantastic yesterday with a fuel reduction burn somewhere up north (around Newstead?) which covered us down south with a golden sky as the sunlight tried to penetrate the smoke creating a wonderland of warm light. Although from what I hear it also made any clothes hanging outside smell like bush fire. I don’t mind that smell but not everyone’s cup of tea I suppose.
wholelarder. found some a month ago up here in orange. saffron milk caps. made a lasagne. there are a couple of places up here that nobody know about. last year i found 100’s.
Yeah I checked the local pine forest spots but it’s just not the right conditions yet. But when they come they come in their thousands.
Sounds like a fabulous way to spend the day Rohan.
Any hints on getting the right info on identifying mushies in the wild? We arent far from a couple of pine forests here but I am not overly confident about identifying them.
The best advice is to go out with a guide. If you’re in Victoria I have a recommendation
No – am a NSW gal – though thanks for the thought!
there is a guy here in orange, the Head Mushroom guy for the DPI he has all the info hope he doesn’t mind me posting his email address. michael.priest@industry.nsw.gov.au. Dr. Priest has over twenty five years experience in the identification of fungi causing diseases of agricultural plants, weeds and the Australian native flora and is the author of the recent book on the Australian species of Septoria which is the first authoritative account of the genus for Australia and details the morphology and host range of 132 species.
Thanks Simon – I will follow this up. I would hate to poison my family through picking the wrong ones!
Thanks guys. A timely reminder in fact.
I can’t stress this enough. If you’ve unsure of the mushroom….don’t pick it. It’s as simple as that. Be safe
Looking forward to trying my local pine forests here at Hampton. And I’m hoping to identify the boletes that pop up under our apricot trees every autumn. I think they’re slippery jacks, but not 100% sure so haven’t picked them. That egg and chorizo fry-up looks good!
Rohan, could the house/property in the picture be “the one”? (Caught my eye because we did “a drive by” of that one a while ago! Looks gorgeous!) My family and I are in the same boat and it’s nice to read about your thoughts and journey towards finding one. Glad to know we are not the only slightly crazy people out there!!!!
Slightly crazy or slightly sane? Not sure which one yet!
I wish I could have something as simple as this. The older I get the simpler I want my life to be. Less things. Less people. Less Stress.