Many people here in Sweden are complaining; it's been raining a lot this summer, or since July I would say. June was sunny and hot, but since most people had their vacation in July, they worked back then. I didn't though so my perspective might be a bit different. But sure, it hasn't really been swim-friendly weather for over a month and now it kind of feels like autumn soon is here...
But all the rain has been great for mushrooms, I have heard that the mushroom season this year is expected to be great π And it makes me very happy that I now live in the countryside and can go for a walk/mushroom hunt whenever I want. It's so close!
Last Friday my mom came for a visit (she only lives 40 kilometers from where I'm currently staying). She suggested that we would go for a walk in the forest and see if we could find some mushrooms. She has several spots where certain mushrooms usually grow. The mushroom season has only just begun here but she has already found quite a lot I would say. She usually brings a bag when she goes for a walk, just in case she'll find some, the purpose of the walk usually isn't to go mushroom hunting but as you might know, when you try the least, that's when you find them π (Therefore she also sometimes doesn't bring anything to carry them in, since that's almost a guarantee for finding a lot, haha).
We didn't have to walk long before we found Chanterelles, but the majority of them are still small. So you are faced with the dilemma to leave them so they can grow bigger and hope that no one else will find them, or pick them because you think they will be gone next time. We did a bit of both.
What we have been finding a lot of already is the Penny Bun, or Porcini (I had actually no idea that it was called this in English, in Swedish it's called Karl-Johan, which is kind of strange because that's a male name). Anyway, unfortunately, they are often worm-eaten. But that will not be so much of a problem once it gets colder (then the worms tend to disappear).
I think the big Porcini above actually was ok. But as you can see in the picture below, the hat on the smallest one was bad. In case you don't know, Porcini is absolutely delicious!
Fly Agaric you easily spot of course. It makes for a good picture π
The forest felt so green. It's usually so dry in summer but due to all the rain, everything felt so fresh and lush.
We also found some Slimy Spike-Cap. But they were still small.
The weather might look rather pleasant in the pictures but it was actually sultry. We had our rain jackets on, which was too hot, because rain was expected at any point. And on our way back home the rain did start. I was happy though to be inside for the sudden cloudburst and thunderstorm later that day.
I'm looking forward to more forest walks and mushroom hunts. It's time to forage π I'll also pick blueberries, my mom has already picked about 20 liters.
I haven't really been out much since this walk last week, it's been raining every day. And a lot of thunderstorms. But it has to stop at some point, right?
(I'm aware I could probably have posted this in Fungi Lovers but I like the Wednesday Walk Community so much and I'm far from a fungi expert).
Thanks for reading πΈ
Love and blessings to you all π