OF mUsHrOOmS

Mushrooms

Rain, and then
the cool pursed
lips of the wind
draw them
out of the ground -
red and yellow skulls
pummeling upward
through leaves,
through grasses,
 through sand; astonishing
in their suddenness,
their quietude,
their wetness, they appear
on fall mornings, some
balancing in the earth
on one hoof
packed with poison,
others billowing
chunkily, and delicious -
 those who know
walk out to gather, choosing
the benign from flocks
 of glitterers, sorcerers,
russulas,
panther caps,
shark-white death angels
in their town veils
looking innocent as sugar
 but full of paralysis:
to eat
is to stagger down
fast as mushrooms themselves
when they are done being perfect
and overnight
slide back under the shining
fields of rain. 

Mary Oliver

I am a mushroom picker…
I delight in walking into the woods and finding the edible treasures….I pick only what I know is edible….and try and learn a bit about the others..

I look forward to Springtime morels….and the fall Boletus Edulis, Chanterelles,Lions Mane, Cauliflower mushroom, Oysters and other wonderful tasty treats!

This fall…We will be in my favorite mushroom picking area, Oregon!

Yippeeee…stay tuned for my mushroom picking forays..

until then..go.... go now to.

Rambling Woods..for more notes on nature!