We marked our calendar last year when we found filberts, also known as hazelnuts. That date popped up on our calendar, so out we went to the sand barrens/wildlife reserve, where we find wild hazelnut bushes.

We found this fine fellow, but no nuts. Our black walnut trees have taken the year off as well, so the lack of a mast did not surprise us.

On our way to look for filberts, I yelled “mushroom!” Michael hit the brakes and backed up. It was a perfect age for harvesting. Because it was doubtful that anyone else would eat it (except the beetles), Michael cut it off the stump and into one of our paper bags it went. It is good to put mushrooms in paper or an open wicker basket. We have found that wild mushrooms don’t like plastic!

Having found a mushroom but no filberts, we decided to hike the “mushroom woods.” This is a state trail that follows the top of a limestone bluff above the St. Croix River. We have hiked this trail for about 30 years. Not many people use this lovely resource. We know because 1) we rarely encounter anyone while we are there and 2) there’s usually no trash to be found on the trail. Even when we do not find edible mushrooms, the hike itself is a worthy way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

But we did find mushrooms! These are lobster mushrooms (hypomyces lactiflorum), which is a type of fungus that infects russula and lactarius mushrooms, turning them from their usual white to this stunning red color. They are edible, but we rarely catch them before they are too old to eat. We gather them anyway because they also make a lovely red dye for my hand spun yarn. (A post for another day.)

We also found some aborted entalomas. There is some evidence that this is another type of fungus that infects a mushroom species and changes it. Which fungus infects which mushroom may not have been settled, but we love these for winter stews. They add a deep umami flavor and are a bit chewy.

Finally, we found this hen of the woods, another favorite to dry and use in winter stews. Unfortunately, it was too old to harvest, so we let it be.

More loveliness on our way home.

I cleaned and sliced mushrooms for the dehydrator while Michael put the birds to bed.

They were all nicely dried by this afternoon. Into tightly sealed glass jars for later use.

We have not been out fishing or foraging as often this year for a number of reasons. We willingly cede other activities to have time watching the Grands grow and to hold onto small bodies while we may. The Grands were not impressed by the borscht I made, but they came back for seconds of the pear-pecan upside down cake. I confess, I ate the last piece after they left!