Morel Mushrooms

[Dan]

Hello Everyone!

So as I have been inspired by 20 to eat more weeds again, I went on a little nature walk/ food walk today through the woods near my house (in SE Michigan).  Now, I found some good garlic mustard, dandelions, trout lily, and violets, but what I was really looking for was morels.  It's the season for them, and I know how to identify them if I could only find the damn wonderful things.  I could have just looked up some tips on google, but I thought maybe I'd ask my friends first.  So, any hints on how/where to find morels?  What plants to look for that they grow around?  What light conditions and tree-density they like?

Thanks, and I appreciate any information you got!
Dan

[Dan]

What a cool coincidence... my friend TIM just put up a video of some pictures of morels on his blog
http://usgems.blogspot.com/2010/05/michigan-morel-guide.html

Maybe I can find some hints there.

Still, any direct advice would be good too!

[Mr Twenty Twenty]

Dan,

Look on trials where you see old retired men, walking real slow, and pocking around leaves and stumps with sticks.

<grin>

Then walk faster than them.

Hugs!  You coming to Scout Camp in June?

Mr Twenty Twenty

[Carol]

I can't help you with this one.

We just "happened" upon a small patch while walking
or bike/hike trail with a friend.

Someone told us that it best to see them after a rain,
because the pop up more then.  

I know years ago we had a wonderful patch that came up
around an apple tree stump that was cut down a few years
before....don't know if the dead wood had anything to do with
it, but they were plentiful.

Let us know what you found out and how you do!!!

[Dan]

Coming to one of your scout camps is a goal in my life, something I'd really love to do.  It won't be this year because it coincides with my school, but you will be seeing me!  I'm really looking forward to it.

Maybe when I'm hunting Morels I can pretend I'm a jogger, that way, the oldsters won't be suspicious when I blast out in front of them on the trails   At any rate, I will continue to share my exploration adventures as I have them   here.

Oh!  I may not have found any Morels yesterday, but I did see a may apple fruit for the first time.  It was pretty cool.

Thanks for the inspiration and information guys!

[Carol]

Exploring is fun!

This year is the first time I've seen a May Apple Flower!!!

Photo is in my new Plant book, along with the fruit photo.

I just love discovering new things, only the "oldster" are
alway getting ahead of me on the trial...I stop and "smell
the roses" so much!

[Mr Twenty Twenty]

Hey Dan,

The fruit is edible, when ripe.  Just don't eat ANYTHING else.

Have fun, and enjoy JOGGING!

20/20

Whooo yah!

[Dan]

Carol, I really enjoy your book, I just downloaded it the other day.  I'm trying to tackle one plant at a time, until I learn them all.  Right now, I'm on the lookout for asiatic dayflower.  No luck yet, but it'll happen, I think I've seen it around michigan before.

[Carol]

  Right now, I'm on the lookout for asiatic dayflower.  No luck yet, but it'll happen, I think I've seen it around michigan before.

They should be coming out soon....May is the month for here in PA....Have you seen any garlic mustard yet?

[Dan]

Tons and Tons and Tons, I brought some over to my parents' house last Sunday to make them dinner.  It went over pretty well!