Shaggy Ink Caps

It is the time of year when the shaggy ink cap grows on our campus wastelands on either side of the cycle path.

I believe also known as "Lawyer's wigs" for the appearance of the fruiting body, a sort of wavy haired effect that drips black at the end as the fungus begins to spore, these fellows are regarded as being quite  a delicacy as long as you get them before that aforementioned sporing.

Indeed, one of the reasons I've not seen so many of them in the last couple of years is that we evidently have some foragers at work who have recognised the goodies under their noses; I remember seeing a girl wandering  off in the dusk gathering armfuls of them last year.

Fair play to her. If she doesn't mind the light dusting of myxamotosis rabbit corpse that probably covers them.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.11.18

Tarty Grapes

Remember the post I made a few weeks ago about the grapes on the vine out back?

Well they have now ripened to the extent that I was able to taste a few; the nip at night hasn't been sufficient to kill off their development, they have darkened to a deep purple - red.

But how would they taste?

Well, I think it's safe to say that we aren't going to be calling up the juice man from Del Monte, assuming he isn't dead. They were distinctly sharp. But we've never had them grow to any kind of edible condition before.

The first thing I've ever eaten from that garden.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.09.18

The Berries are Upon Us!

I'm no forager, but I wish I was.

Unfortunately, I think I would be the sort of forager who manages to pick some juicy Deadly Nightshade in Newark, where none has ever been seen before; or stumble upon Britain's only example of the death-within-two-hours-causing False Blackberry.

Incidentally, the only place I can ever remember coming across Deadly Nightshade was on a school trip to Bradgate Park in 1983. I think it was a sharp metal axe thing that Lady Jane Grey found a greater hazard back in the day. But I digress.

This time of year, the Haws, the Hips, The Edlerberries and The Blackberries are all out in large numbers in my usual running haunts. I wish I could collect big bags of them, along the cycle path, in Willow Holt, up on Beacon Hill Reserve. A dear friend told me of all the things you could do with them, jams, wines, preserves and heaven knows what.

If I collected them, I wouldn't know what to do. It would be a sad waste. Red and black berries mushing in a plastic bag, a tupperware sandwich box if they were really lucky. How I wish I knew what to do with things; how I wish if I went looking for mushrooms I would end up not poisoning myself!

But I'm sure you folk can. The weather is colder, the wind is blowing. But it is still great, and free out there. Go take a look.

And if you do make any Elderberry wine, save me a bottle.