Monday, August 28, 2017

MUSHROOMS



A few days ago we were coming back from our son and daughter-in-law's place, when we spotted these.  I asked Gregg if he would stop the car so that I could take a few photos, and get a closer look.  

They were fascinating but mosquitoes were everywhere, tucked away in a damp, wooded area as they were. Thankfully I only brought one friend back into the car, and he already had a meal before I managed to open the window and let him out.  Yes I tried to swat the thing but he was too fast.  They have always loved me and completely ignore Gregg, and I am often itchy for days. 

But there was one time he had a problem - see here for that post.  It was eye-opening to me.  After being married for many years this was the first time I saw the tables turned.

Neither of us have ever seen anything like these mushrooms.  The largest of the clumps were at least two feet across and a foot high.  On doing a search on line I am pretty positive that they are Jack O'Lantern Mushrooms.  Please correct me if you think I am incorrect, as I am a novice at such things and always welcome an ID from the more experienced.  

The season is changing because this is a Fall mushroom, and before I go any further it is poisonous and will make you very sick if you eat them.  Apparently people have mistaken them for Chanterelles.  

One of the things that caught my attention on this web page where I found a lot of interesting information, its host said that these mushrooms glow in the dark. This particular author of the article seems skepticle, but the gills are supposed to be luminescent, and it is mentioned that he has found stories of our 19th-century pioneers finding their way back to their cabins in the dark, following the glowing Jack O'Lanterns.  Skepticism aside, I like the story and I hope it is true.

At this site you will find the Cornell University Mushroom Blog, which seems to have a picture of the glowing mushrooms, and I leave smiling.  The pioneer story could very well be true, and that suits me just fine. 



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47 comments:

  1. LindaAugust 28, 2017 at 9:13 PM

    Amazing photos, Denise, I am really fascinated, too! Thank you so much for sharing.

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  2. Ginny HartzlerAugust 28, 2017 at 9:27 PM

    What a great laugh I had from your old post about your hike! These mushrooms were in our neighborhood a few years ago, growing at the base of trees. I assumed they were poisonous because of the bright color. They are really beautiful, even the shapes. I did not know about the glowing!! In your link, they are glowing GREEN!! I do hope this story is true! Now I need to go mushroom hunting in the dark!

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 8:43 AM

      Thanks Ginny, that’s great that you enjoyed the old post. We both laughed also when we saw it again. They are pretty mushrooms aren’t they and I found it interesting learning about them.

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  3. Elephant's ChildAugust 28, 2017 at 10:56 PM

    They are very beautiful - despite their poisonous status.
    Mosquitoes love me too. Indeed my partner uses me instead of pesticides. He invites me to come out with him, knowing that he will be left un-fanged. Sigh. And I too can itch for days.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 8:46 AM

      Ah yes, another kindred spirit that the mosquitoes enjoy :)

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  4. JimmyAugust 28, 2017 at 11:03 PM

    I have never seen Jack O' Lantern mushrooms, I bet that is a sight to see glowing at night.

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  5. RedAugust 28, 2017 at 11:14 PM

    This is a very odd piece of fungus. I like the stories that go with it.

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  6. riitta kAugust 28, 2017 at 11:18 PM

    Your mushroom photos look great. But we really have to be careful and be sure we know the ones we pick. Wishing you a great day.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 9:33 AM

      Thank you Riitta, I agree. I would never pick wild mushrooms to eat. I don't know enough about them, except when I occasionally read a news article on how someone got sick because they thought they were okay to eat. I will stick to the store :)

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  7. RoseAugust 29, 2017 at 12:04 AM

    There is also a thing called a chicken mushroom...not really like this, but reminds one...you can see them Here...or look up chicken mushrooms in the wild.

    It is a polypore--doesn't have gills--and if you tear one open when it is fresh, it tears like a chicken breast. We have actually eaten them. They need to be fried slow and not such hot heat...they do taste a bit like chicken.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 9:37 AM

      That is fascinating Rose, another one I haven't heard of. Thank you, I love learning about them.

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  8. ChristineAugust 29, 2017 at 1:15 AM

    Wow never seen such big mushrooms!

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  9. BreathtakingAugust 29, 2017 at 4:39 AM

    Hello Denise, :) The mushrooms are enormous, and well worth stopping for. I would love to see them glowing in the dark. As for the pesky mozzies, they are such a nuisance and have spoiled many an outing for us, as they can bite you through clothing just as effectively as without, and like you, leave us itching for days. Poor Greg, he really did have a bad time fighting them off, but you took some funny pictures.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 9:45 AM

      Thanks Breathtaking, we both have a chuckle now :)

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  10. Little Wandering WrenAugust 29, 2017 at 6:10 AM

    Aren't they amazing, even if poisonous, they are quite a striking addition to the landscape. Shame about the mossies though!
    Wren x

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 12:46 PM

      They are indeed. Mossies days are almost over :) I feel Fall in the air already.

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  11. MadSnapperAugust 29, 2017 at 6:29 AM

    I have seen a couple of these in one of our parks, but they were very small, none nearly as big as these are. I never eat anything I find even it is says it is edible. like the grapes that come on our seagrape, I don't eat them because I don't trust the internet info.. beautiful find and good you got rid of the pest out the window. they love ME to

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 1:01 PM

      I know, lovely to see but wouldn't touch them with a barge pole :)

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  12. David M. Gascoigne,August 29, 2017 at 6:31 AM

    Certainly an impressive stand of fungi and I am glad that you stopped the car to take the pictures. I am in my infancy as far as mushroom I.d. Is concerned so I cannot help you with clinching your decision as to what they are. Mosquitos bite me and I itch for a day or two and that's it, but Miriam tends to swell up so it's more of an issue for her. My skin is getting so old and leathery they will soon have a hard time breaking through!!

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  13. eileeninmdAugust 29, 2017 at 7:06 AM

    Hello, I have never seen this kind of mushroom. They are cool looking, the color does look like it could glow in the dark. Wonderful photos. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  14. ValerieAugust 29, 2017 at 7:17 AM

    Isn't it strange that lovely looking mushrooms are the most dangerous. That first picture shows how it can fool people. Nevertheless, it is an interesting topic.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 1:17 PM

      It is Valerie, and I hope more people know better now.

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  15. Alexa TAugust 29, 2017 at 8:22 AM

    Interesting info; and learned new things about this variation of mushrooms ("The Jack O’Lantern’s ability to create luminescence"). It sound so interesting! Many thanks for sharing, Denise. A nice day and new week! Alexa

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 1:20 PM

      I am happy you enjoyed the post Alexa. A nice day and week to you too ;)

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  16. Devilish AngelAugust 29, 2017 at 9:45 AM

    I have never seen such golden color mushroom. Thank you for sharing...

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  17. Nancy ChanAugust 29, 2017 at 11:10 AM

    Wow! These are wonderful find on your way home. That is a lot of mushrooms! Interesting information on the mushrooms.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 3:51 PM

      Thanks Nancy, I was very happy as I enjoy studying anything that is different and that I haven't seen before.

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  18. ellen b.August 29, 2017 at 1:58 PM

    Wow! Those mushroom mounds are really something. Yikes about the mosquitoes, though. They don't ignore me, either.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 7:39 PM

      Wouldn't it be nice if they did ignore us? :)))

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  19. RhodesiaAugust 29, 2017 at 2:06 PM

    Wow Greg really did have a mosquito problem there! I never used to get bitten in Africa and Nigel did, the tables seem to have reversed in France!
    Those mushrooms are interesting and it would be good to see if you really could walk home in the dark :-) Take care Diane

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 7:45 PM

      He certainly did Diane, isn't it strange how those mozzies can choose one over another, in different countries? Enjoy the rest of your week :)

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  20. Titus John WhiteAugust 29, 2017 at 3:12 PM

    Hi Denise and what a set of fascinating images of these mushrooms, I have never seen any thing like it over here. All the best, John

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 7:50 PM

      Thank you John, if I have ever seen one I may not have noticed. With these enormous clumps they were hard to miss and a bit of a surprise. All the best to you too, Denise

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  21. William KendallAugust 29, 2017 at 5:44 PM

    They're quite photogenic. I err on the side of caution and leave all mushrooms alone.

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  22. LindaAugust 29, 2017 at 11:48 PM

    Interesting! Your link took me to a post with funny notes. :-)

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 8:39 PM

      Sorry Linda, I am not sure what is going on. I just checked the links again and they took me to the pages I wanted to share on the mushrooms.

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  23. Cuco ramalheiroAugust 30, 2017 at 4:57 AM

    Hello Denise!

    The mosquitoes know how to choose and prefer the sweetest people, as you are a sweetheart prefer it to you.
    These beautiful mushrooms remind us of sweet temptations, but they make us think that not everything is what it seems and that beauty also kills. For caution, I only eat mushrooms of culture, but I love to photograph the wild mushrooms.

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    1. DeniseinVAAugust 30, 2017 at 8:47 PM

      Hello Francisco, a sweet thing to say. Thank you :) I agree with you about mushrooms. They are fun to photogaph. I only eat the ones out of the supermarket, and remember the big field mushrooms as big as plates at the local greengrocer in my childhood.

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  24. Lowcarb team memberAugust 30, 2017 at 5:39 PM

    I think your mushroom photos look great, but, yes we do have to be careful and know which ones to pick as many are poisonous.

    An interesting read.

    All the best Jan

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