Tag Archives: Candy Caps

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A big Buck visited the property of Richard and Barbara Dong. Richard wrote, “We spotted this Buck in our yard enjoying a meal. He decided to take a nap after his breakfast.”

It’s interesting to see that the Buck still has his antlers. It’s about time for Bucks to shed their antlers, which they do every year in January or early February. The Dongs might be lucky to find an antler or a pair of antlers left behind by this sleepy Buck.

Thanks to Richard for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

Looks like we have a string of clear weather days. With warmer temps, the mushrooms will be popping! The first candy caps are up.

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What a season we are having this year with wild mushrooms. Hedgehog mushrooms, one of my favorites, are  up in abundance, as are Winter Chanterelles and Black Trumpets. One of the most distinctive mushrooms is the Fly Amanita. Jim  Garlock recently photographed one.

Fly Amanita by Jim Garlock

Rick and I went on a mushroom hunt last week, looking for edibles, of course. We found a treasure trove of Matsutakes! Also found was a Shaggy Man, Candy Caps, Black Trumpets and Hedgehogs.

Basket of edible mushrooms by Jeanne Jackson

Finding edible mushrooms in the forest is like finding treasure - a gift from Mother Nature.

Thanks to Jim for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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The recent rains have brought a tremendous bloom of mushrooms, many of them choice edibles. Just look what Subir Sanyal foraged recently. Boletus edulis, Chanterelles, Coccora, Pig's Ears and a big Cauliflower mushroom, plus the first Candy Caps! Wow!

A haul of edible mushrooms by Subir Sanyal

And here is another basket of mixed mushrooms picked by Subir. Not all of these are edibles; some he picked for their color. They sure make a beautiful basket, don't they?

A bounty of wild mushrooms by Subir Sanyal

Many people are still finding large porcini, Boletus edulis. Chanterelles are just beginning. After two  years of nearly zero wild mushrooms, we are having a wonderful explosion of fungi!

Thanks to Subir for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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Candy Cap mushrooms obviously do not mind cold weather. They have been popping up in great numbers. This delicious edible is in the  Milk Cap family - Lactarius fragilis. Rick and I find it growing under Bishop Pines and Tan-oak Trees. It's deep orange color is distinctive and it bleeds white liquid when you touch their gills. The most distinctive trait is, however, their unbelievable maple syrup fragrance.

These mushrooms are so sweet you can use them to bake cookies or in pancakes. In Gualala a local gelato company, Gelati Pazzo Marco Creamery, makes Candy Cap Gelato. Here's the link to their web site: http://gelatipazzomarco.com/

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Our chef friend, Barbara Bourke, visited last weekend. Saturday morning we headed out for wild mushrooms. We didn't have to go further than our own property. We found Black Trumpets, Bellybutton Hedgehogs, a lone Golden Chanterelle, Candy Caps and Shrimp Russulas.

Barb decided to use the Black Trumpets in a scalloped potato dish. She chopped them and layered them in with the potatoes. No need to cook them first as the dish takes an hour in the oven.

And here is the finished product. I can attest to the deliciousness of this dish!

What a treat. Thank you, Barb!