Mushroom picking
It’s an early September morning with sun rays reflecting off the morning dew on spider webs, distant calls of a black woodpecker and the tweeting of crested tits high up the spruce trees. We slowly walk along our favourite forest path where I know mushrooms I’m after should grow. And sure enough, here is the first Cep (Boletus edulis) (or Penny Bun as it’s also called). A bit further a bunch of yellow Chantarelle (Cantarellus cibarius) mushrooms is scattered amongst green moss. And more ceps, and more… We walk from one mushroom to another, and the basket is getting heavier and heavier. Soon the basket is full an it’s time to go home.
The quintessential toad stall, or Fly Agaric (do not eat!)
Mushroom picking has a thrill that is akin to that of hunting or fishing. The fact that the game doesn’t move doesn’t matter. It’s about the knowledge of the right season and habitat for each species, it requires good eyesight and stamina, as a mushroom-picker usually walks in the forest for several hours and covers significant distances. It’s also one of the most relaxing activities I know. You are in the forest listening to the autumnal silence and occasional bird chatter, all by yourself. Forest sounds and walking get you in a sort of meditative state when all the worries go away (even for only a few hours) and your thoughts flow freely. Besides, it’s a good physical exercise that can help you to keep fit. However, before you embark on this therapeutic activity, you should remember one very important rule.
Caution!
Rule No.1 for anyone who picks wild mushrooms – do not take mushrooms that you don’t know or are unsure about! Better discard 10 perfectly good mushrooms than collect and eat a dodgy one. There are relatively few deadly mushroom species that will kill anyone careless enough to eat them but there are plenty of mildly poisonous ones that can still cause serious problems, and even more of inedible ones that are able to give serious indigestion.
Inedible, but too good a photo opportunity to miss!
Therefore, if you are new to mushroom picking, it is better to do it with someone who knows the species and will be able to teach you the difference between the good ones and the poisonous ones. If the expert is not available in the forest, then you MUST show your trophies to a knowledgeable person after you come home to make sure that the species you collected are safe to eat.
Grandparents know best…
Guidebooks can only be used for more theoretical purpose as real mushrooms can differ significantly from textbook specimens. Some books can also give incorrect information about certain species. E.g., in a British guidebook some species that are perfectly edible and favoured in many countries were given as inedible or even poisonous. The best way to learn the species is from your parents or grandparents, as it’s done in Latvia where mushroom picking has strong traditions and is a favourite pastime for many people. There are even mushroom picking championships in Latvia!
Even if you are more comfortable with eating only the supermarket type of mushrooms, you can still go on a photo hunt for the wild ones. Lots of species such as the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) (see above) which, though poisonous, are fantastic subjects for photography due to their beautiful colour and shape. And autumn is the best season for this kind of photography, so don’t miss it!
October 15th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
I’m love to pick mushrooms too and I can really identify with your article. Eating ‘em is best though! Great website!!!
October 16th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
My mom helped us pick mushrooms as kids. We would come home with tons. Eating is best!
November 7th, 2006 at 9:12 pm
I find mushrooms fascinating, I don’t know enough to pick them though.
Spending time in the woods is always relaxing.
Great pics, nice blog.