BS: How are the Morels doing this year?

Subject: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Knappo
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 07:10 AM

If you opened this thread I figure your probibly a Midwesterner. I have been transplanted from Michigan to Connecticut and can't find a damn one out here. Now one knows what the hell I'm talking about, or they are being damn secretive which 'shroomers tend to be, but I think not. I used to go every spring as a kid, what a great time. Anyway, I've been really craving them this spring. So how they doing, you had any luck? I'd like to know someone is enjoying them. Sad & Hungry Tom

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 07:19 AM

well I've been 'shrooming and found nothing so far but an aquaintance has told me (bragged, actually) that he has found "a big sack full". The weather was right but nothing poked it's wrinkly head up in MY favorite 'shroom haunts. I know of a place where they are found in legendary quantities but it is on private ground and I am leery of sneaking in to grab some 'shrooms, being alergic to birdshot (Spring turkey season open Monday the 22!)

CB

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 04:15 PM

On the west coast, and in Alaska, the main season seems to be in late fall. I'm surprised to hear about spring gathering. Alaska, incidentally, has a tremendous variety of 'shrooms.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Knappo
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 05:10 PM

Yeah, in Michigan at least the morels come in April and May. Tom

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Peg
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 05:51 PM

it has been so dry here that there are no mushrooms at all...I go hiking in Franlkin Park which is fairly wooded and have seen nothing...93 degrees last week, and snow in the forecast for this evening...now even for New England that's crazy weather!

Happy Earth Day!

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Knappo
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 06:57 PM

Peg, What state is Franklin Park in? Tom

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 08:11 PM

We have them in West Virginia. I don't remember which part of the year. Right now it's ramp season which, in my opinion, is even better than morel season. I found my first morel growing in the yard among the roots of an apple tree several years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: fox4zero
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 08:26 PM

I moved to Dutchess Co. New York 13 years ago. On my place there were numerous old apple trees which had been overgrown with enormous thick poison ivy vines. Also there are extensive wetlands (which we used to call a swamp). Morels grew like crazy at the base of the apple trees and morel fanciers told me that apple tree/poison ivy was the ideal condition for morels.

Over the years the trees have been cleaned of P.I. and have been pruned. The wetlands have receded somewhat as the water table has dropped from dry summers. The morels have disappeared. It is also interesting to note that Rust, a kind of fungus spore, has also disappeared. It used to be that our mowing tractor would be covered with the orange/red spores (hence the name Rust) in the spring and summer. I haven't seen a speck of Rust for about 7-8 years.

All in all nature is obviously not static, but very dynamic. I can't begin to tell you how lucky I am to live where I do....to note when the peepers start their chorus in the Spring (they were 30 days earlier than last year). I watch the the annual return of the same pair of Canada geese who nest and hatch 6-8 goslings on an island on one of the ponds (none seem to escape the fox, racoon or hawk).

More interesting is another pair of geese that showed up with 2 different size clutches of goslings....they had added to their own family by kidnapping someone elses goslings. Unfortunately, along with the deer, turkey, fox, coyote, bobcat, bluebirds and orioles, there are also the deer flies, mosquitos, deer ticks and lone star ticks with their gifts of Lyme disease, borreliosis and ehrlichiosis. The risk is definitely worth the game, as the old saying went.

Love to all, LARRY

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 09:27 PM

Wisconsin boy, living in Connecticut. I had forgotten all about morels until a few years ago someone brought some mushrooms in to be identified and the Director of Education had them sitting on his desk. He was looking through field guides trying to identify them, and I sai,d "those are morels." Hadn't seen them since I was a kid, but how could you ever forget them. I remember going out to my Uncle Ross's farm with my Father and there was a secret place where he knew they grew. My Father never liked my Uncle Ross much, so he never told them.

Anyway, Morels do grow in Connecticut. I knew the woods and swamps in Southwestern Connecticut like the plam of my hand, but I never saw any morels there. But, they're around. You can be sure if someone knows what they are and knows a place to collect them they ain't tellin' NOBODY! Nice to know you as a fellow Midwesterner, Knappo, but I'd have to find a field of them to tell you where they are...:-) I'm sure that you understand.

Yesterday driving down the highway I saw the biggest, fattest male wild turkey I have ever seen. He had his tail fanned out for the ladies, with a bright red wattle and he looked like he escaped off a Thanksgiving table decoration. Nature IS always changing. Maybe the morels will come back. Like the Swallows to Capistrano.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Barbara
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 12:23 AM

Fall in Alaska? How wierd. On the rest of the west coast morels come up in the spring. We have them here, including on our property here in NW Oregon.
But they aren't up yet. First/second week of May is the time I'd really get serious about looking. Tons of them in burned over places up in the Cascades, come out concurrent with the staghorn orchids. Often the same places. Ain't gonna tell more.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: DD
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 12:49 AM

In Missouri we are having an AWESOME and bountiful harvest BON APPETTIT!

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 02:31 AM

If that "e" is correct, I don't know.

If it should be an "a," well, I've been good so far.

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Knappo
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 05:22 AM

Jerry: Glad to know they do grow here. It's like knowing good fishing spots on a lake, ya just smile and say nothing. We had Turkeys creating quite a racket behind our place yesterday. There are a lot of them around Branford.

CarolC: What are Ramps?

DD: That's great. Ummm, I can smell from here.

Cheers, Tom

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 08:14 AM

We have Morels in the UK too. I've been eating small amounts of "wild" food for a few years now and look forward to Autumn/Fall as its the best time here. I've read about Morels but this is the first year I've seen any, and hear they come up in Spring. I didn't pick them so I don't know what they taste like, the books say they're good to eat. We have lots of other edible fungi over here and one of the best I'm told is the Giant Puffball (I've never had it myself). Do you get then in North America?

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 08:15 AM

We have Morels in the UK too. I've been eating small amounts of "wild" food for a few years now and look forward to Autumn/Fall as its the best time here. I've read about Morels but this is the first year I've seen any, and hear they come up in Spring. I didn't pick them so I don't know what they taste like, the books say they're good to eat. We have lots of other edible fungi over here and one of the best I'm told is the Giant Puffball (I've never had it myself). Do you get then in North America? All the best PP

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 10:42 AM

DD and Knappo. Since my first reply the cook and I have gone out and found a lovely spot with many of the wrinkly darlin's. Tonight we feast! and on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning we will be back as the ones we got were just up and BIG and that very light yellowish color and TENDER so we have more to arrive soon.

The cook had over twenty ticks on her and I picked two off my clothes. Here is a tip about ticks:

Bathe with Dial soap. The cook uses a sweet smelling soap (which I truly appreciate) but it seems to invite ticks. I almost NEVER get ticks on me but the ones that do show up seem to be leaving for other places or people. Once I changed to Lever 2000 and I was heavily infested with ticks. I changed back to Dial. A friend a work had the same experience. He usually use Ivory bath soap. When he went back to Ivory his tick problem improved. There will be a great many more ticks this year because WE (in Missouri) had a mild winter.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 10:50 AM

Piper: yes puffballs abound in the states. I think you slice them and sautee in garlic butter (that is my answer to almost any wild edible that needs to be cooked, sautee in garlic butter, serve with a light rose wine.)

Morels have a light "woodsy" taste, we are having ours tonight with Bison and a wonderful fruit and garden veggie salad marinated in a Greek dressing the cook has come up with from her VAST store of cookery.

I gotta go get 2 dozen of Virginia's eggs. Her chickens are free ranging and lay HUGE brown eggs. She charges $1 a dozen!

CB

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: MMario
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 11:08 AM

Man - I *wish* we had morels! puffballs occasionally, and the occasional shaggy mane/inky cap but not much else in the "recognizable edible" types.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: GUEST,Knappo
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 12:32 PM

Coyote Breath: I'll try your advice about Dial soap. We get ticks real bad. The town they named the disease after (Lymes) is just up the road from me. I got infected last year. I was lucky to get the bulls-eye spot that clearly indicates you have it, sometimes there is no spot. The medication worked well but prevents me from donating blood for a year (I get four hours vaction time for donating) and makes you REAL sensitive to the sun. I went to a festival last year and had to sit in the sun most of the day. I sunburned the hell out of my hands! I've never sunburnt my hands. Uncomfortable as all get out.

Pied Piper: Sometimes the puffballs get to the size of basketballs and larger. I've never eaten one either. I think you need to make sure they are very white inside. There is a false morel so make sure you know what you have! Then just sautee them in butter and enjoy, I think they are fantastic.

Good Hunting, Knappo

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 12:45 PM

I need to clarify that I don't know when morels, specifically, appear. Autumn is the only time I know of people going out hunting the fungi, but then I don' know everybody. :)

I only eat wild mushrooms that are gathered by midwest people or Europeans, (I figure that people who grew up gathering them are not going to go wrong) although according to the books there are some varieties that are virtually unmistakeable, among them the morel, the shaggy mane and the chanterelle. All lovely 'shrooms- I just wish I trusted myself.

Once a friend gave me a small jar of home-canned mushrooms that a friend had given her. I kept it awhile then gave it to another friend who later gave it to another friend. I suspect that jar is still making the rounds.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 12:57 PM

Wow Mr Breath that sounds like a great repast (my mouth is watering just thinking about it). Sautéed in garlic butter sounds good to me. Fortunately we don't have much of a Tick problem here in the UK so I'll stick with my usual soap. Have you ever tried Elder flower champagne, it marvellous stuff (I think you have Elders in your neck of the woods). If your interested Ill see if I can dig out a recipe. PP

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: lamarca
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 01:47 PM

Knappo, ramps are wild leeks, which grow in the Appalachian and Piedmont areas of West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, etc. They are an, uh, acquired taste - kindof a cross between scallions and garlic, they taste strong going down, and remind you of their taste repeatedly for a LONG time. I don't care for them, and I love garlic, leeks and onions. Locals from these areas tend to celebrate local pride by harvesting them and holding "Ramp Festivals" in the spring. I searched Google, and found a fairly good description of one from a Knoxville, TN newspaper: here

A couple years ago, the county came and "installed" a new street tree (a little hedge maple) in KathWestra's front yard to replace a diseased oak tree that had been removed, and mulched it heavily. The following spring, Kath had morels pop up in her front yard around where they had planted the new sapling ! Alas, this seems to have been a one-year phenomenon, as they haven't re-appeared in the following years. We figure there must have been morel spawn on some of the mulch the county used...

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 03:10 PM

Don' know nothin' about Elder Champagne. I used to make elderberry wine (along with many other varieties.) It was always one of my favorites. We had elderberry bushes growing next to the house when I was a kid...

Jerry the winemaker..

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 03:17 PM

Yes we get what we call ramsons here, in the north of Scotland too, generally classified as wild garlic, We also get ticks, 'cos where you've got sheep and deer, you've got ticks. Thank goodness we also get chanterelles which are my favourite mushroom, I like shaggy inkcaps too, but can't eat them and drink alchohol, as it makes you sick, believe me it does!
Failte.....Giok

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 03:20 PM

If I knew where any were I would tell you all and watch the Great Fungi Stampede. My fellas eat the fungal stuff, I will NOT.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 04:38 PM

Knappo, lamarca has done an admirable job of describing the physical attributes of ramps, but not being an aficionado, I'm afraid lamarca cannot do justice to the taste. So I will tell you about it myself...

As has been said, ramps are a species of wild leek. The locations of ramp hunting grounds are just as closely guarded as morel hunting grounds. The time to look for them is when the coltsfoot, serviceberry trees, squirrel corn, and wild ginger are in bloom. The timing of ramp season will vary locally according to your elevation. They grow in rich moist soil with a lot of humus. They are often found on hillsides above creeks and streams.

The taste is heavenly. They have a stronger taste than the domestic leek, but they are wonderfully flavorful, and if you can't handle the strong taste of raw ramps, they can be cooked for a much milder flavor (I prefer them cooked). I like them best cooked with scrambled eggs and fried potatoes. They are worthy of every bit of celebration their early springtime arrival inspires in people who know.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 04:58 PM

Skunk cabbage is coming up. The native Americans ate it, picking the young leaves before they develop the distinctive smell. I've tried them, cooked with a little butter on them, and they're fine. Just get 'em while they're young. The indian word that is the basis for the name Chicago is place with many skunk cabbage.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: MMario
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 05:06 PM

Jerry - I've always heard that about skunk cabbage too - I just have never been able to figure out when "before they devolop their smell" is - because the area I grew up - the day old shoots stunk to high heaven! Also - if anyone is sensative to oxalic acid - DON'T attempt to eat skunk cabbage - the leverls are VERY high.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 05:27 PM

OK, nobody has said anything about fiddleheads or baby pokeweed.........I would love to taste ramp, fiddlehead and baby poke. Unfortunately, when I lived in KS where poke grows, I didn't know it was edible.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Peg
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 05:33 PM

Franklin Park is one of the Olmsted parks in Boston, MA.

Anyone for stinging nettles??? I like to pick the young ones in spring (with gloves of course) and dry them for tea, or blanch them and make soup...

Careful about home-picked mushrooms by a source you don't know well! there are plenty of amateur mycologists out there who think they know what they're doing but a good mamny poisonous mushrooms are hard to tell apart from their benign cousins. (Morels are unique-looking though and so usually safe).

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 05:37 PM

I've eaten fiddleheads. I thought they were disconcertingly fuzzy. Although I may have been eating the wrong kind. I don't know.

Spring beauty tubers are heavenly also. But it takes an awful lot of work to dig them up in sufficient quantities to have a good serving. I bet they would be cosmically wonderful with ramps. And tender new leaves of lambs quarter (Chenopodium album) are wonderfull in the springtime, sauteed with tomatoes, basil, thyme, olive oil, bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 06:07 PM

The only wild edibles we have here are purslane and lamb's quater.......purslane is ok as an additive to a salad but not by itsself......(ok, there is some sorrell and the Dandelions, but I gotta draw the line somewhere).

I did try to gather dandelion flowers for wine one year, but when it came to the "pick off all the green stuff" I gave up.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 07:09 PM

I live in the Northern part of lower Michigan and usually start looking for morels when the ADDERS TONGUE, DUTCHMAN'S BRITCHES, and INDIAN CORN are in bloom. We usually find enough morels within a couple hundred feet of the house to make a good mess. Ah, morels fried with onions and a bit of garlic. Ummmmmm ~~ I hope the early week of summer and then back into winter did no confuse the morels into thinking they should remain dormant. It's supposed to be in the low 20's tonight.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Knappo
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 11:23 PM

Man I'm hungry now. Thanks for the info on ramps, I'll try some maybe if I get down that way. If we all gathered together someplace with all these goodies we could have a hell of a pagan feast.

Cap't Bob: I'll heading to Harbor Springs in August. Maybe with this nutty weather it'll still be spring up there and I can have a look about for the little yummies. But probibly not. Cheers, Tom

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 11:48 PM

Knappo ~ if you get as far as Harbor Springs you may as well take the scenic drive up to Cross Village and have lunch or dinner at Legg's. Ummmmmmmm.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:16 AM

For all who would the wild plants eat: Wild Plant Family Cookbook by Patricia Armstrong is an excellent source. For each recipie she has an evaluation and sometimes a caution for there are some plants which people can be alergic to. She seems to cover all regions of the US and I suspect those plants which have relatives in the UK and Europe can be handled in the same manner as the USA plants. Another very Midwest cook book is Cy Littlebee's "Guide to Cooking Fish and Game". This can ordered from the Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65102. or at this website: www.conservation.state.mo.us. While you are at it you can subscribe to the Missouri Conservationist a free monthly magazine for Missouri residents $7 for out-of-state and $10 for out-of-country. Worth it for the nature photographs of Jim Rathert alone.

CB

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: GUEST,Patrish
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 11:55 AM

I only tried morels once, but it was enough. I can't seem to find them in this country - so I dream...........
Patrish x

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Peg
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 12:51 PM

another great book put out by Inner Traditions (or maybe Element Books?) is "Wild Roots" which is a guide to finding and cooking with tubers amd roots, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Bearheart
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 02:57 PM

What a great thread!

Here in Southeastern Oh (read "Appalachians")we have morels, but they are hard to find mostly beacuase the oldtimers get to them first and don't have a problem trespassing to get them... We don't have morels on our land, but chanterelles in plenty, and I think they are about the best eating. They are also quite distinctive in color and shape, not like other mushrooms. I let my brother, who studied botany in college and made a specialty of shrooms, collect the puffballs and other more obscure ones. Then we eat them cooked in butter or garlic butter. My husband Crow sautees the chanterelles in butter and or garlic/herbs, and then often garnishes steaks or chops with them. (can't beat free-range meat from the farmer's market topped with wild mushrooms. Speaking of famer's market, we had our first ramps this spring from one of the local guys who brings his organic produce and alot of wildcrafted stuff to the market. It prompted Crow to check our woods, and we do have them. They are good lots of ways, but I like them in scrambled eggs and omelets. Nettles I'm still learning to like, but one of the best reasons to eat them is that they are chockfull of important nutrients-- esp. things that women going through the change, or getting ready to, need. I like them best cooked lightly, like spinach, and with a little balsamic vinegar.

Crow, who grew up in Arkansas(among other places) says that though poke is supposed to be poisonous in some stages, people there ate the young shoots and made poke berry pie as well. Course it is my understanding that the berries are rather cathartic and can give you the runs big time. But judiciously used poke is a lymphatic cleanser. Maybe that's why people eat the young shoots... A spring time tonic.

Gonna bookmark this thread, so keep it going please.

Bekki

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 07:41 PM

I've eaten pokeweed, but you're right... you have to get them young. I've also been told that when fully grown, they are poisonous. Same with Poincietta's. Not that I've been tempted to eat them. Fiddleheads are a delicacy and very soon you can enjoy a delightful flower, the tiger lilly, or day lillies, too. Pick the buds just before they start to open and sautee them.

At the Museum where I worked, we served refreshments for our Annual meeting one year made exclusively from plants we gathered from our woods.

Anyone use Wood Sorrel as a garnish, or just to nibble on? I've enjoyed it since I was a little kid..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: How are the Morels doing this year?
From: DD
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 12:33 AM

You have to get poke young. And you are supposed to double boil it. Boil it first and pour of the water rinse well and boil again. Growing up we would eat poke well into June......so it couldnt have been all that young. I think the trick is the double boiling. Now i have to go find something to eat cuz ya'll have made me SO HUNGRY.