Have you come down from your mushroom high, Dungeon Meshi Maniacs? Or have you spent the last week shoving every fungi you see into your mouth? I get it, mushrooms rule! If you take anything from this adventure I want it to be that. And that Chilchuck is a terrible person. Universal truths aside, what could we possibly talk about this week, DMMs? While I could easily type "Mushrooms am the greetest" over and over I feel that would fall short of the prose you've come to expect! Fear not for there is plenty to talk about. Reheat that Roasted Walking Mushroom and pull up a chair.
I doubt it'll turn you into a gnome but what a great place for witches to dance! That's one of the numerous beliefs associated with Fairy Circles. Most European legends involving Fairy Circles are negative, DMMs. Places to be avoided thanks to fairies, dragons or witches. Why? If you ever see a Fairy Circle you'll notice the grass inside the circle is a bit browner than the grass outside. This is the mycelium network doing it's thing! The "roots" of the mushrooms are eating up all the nutrients and out competing the grass. Some ancient landstander walking in the woods sees this and naturally their first thought is going to be crazy witches doing witch things! I'm 85% sure you can walk through a Fairy Circle with no ill effects, DMMs....but don't quote me on that. Today mushrooms are no longer mysterious and things of legends. In fact, my home state has an official State Mushroom! The Indigo Milk Cap.
Gotta admit that I rolled my eyes when I learned this, DMMs. While I'm sure this mushroom is in the state I've personally never seen one. The only reason I can think of why it is our state's mushroom is it is University of Kentucky blue. Which is just silly since we have more universities in this state than just the one. Why limit ourselves to a certain shade of blue? Especially when one of our state's largest industries has its own personal fungi. Can I interest you in a booze loving fungi? The Whiskey Fungi!
What a looker! Don't wait up too late, DMMs. The Whiskey Fungi and I are going out on the town. Why is it the Whiskey Fungi? Great question. This particular fungi loves airborne alcohol. When you age booze in a barrel there is always a bit lost to evaporation. This is called the Angel's Share but we should probably call the Fungi's Share. That evaporated alcohol is "eaten" by the Whiskey Fungi and they grow all around the area. Check out these barrel buildings for a local distillery.
See that black growing up the buildings? That's Whiskey Fungi! Thankfully this fungi is more of an aesthetic problem than a health concern. The fungi won't get you sick, it will discolor your building. Now this fungi I have seen in person. As long time DMMs know I enjoy running. And I've ran races from bourbon distillery to bourbon distillery seeing discolored buildings along the way! And running through whiskey clouds. What about mushrooms a little closer to home? Check out this planter in my own home.
See that tiny little yellow guy in the background? Let's take a look from a different angle.
YIKES! That's not tiny at all! Say hello to the Flowerpot Parasol, DMMs. Also known as the Leucocoprinus Birnbaumii. This little dudes only grow in flowerpots and mostly in greenhouses. We really didn't notice them until indoor gardening became a thing in the late 1700's. Why are they called Parasols? Let's check in on them a few hours later.
Boom! Flapped open like an umbrella. Very pretty but VERY TOXIC, DMMs! Do not eat these until you want serious gastronomical issues. They won't kill you but they'll put you in for bad couple of hours. You can admire them safely. You may want to prune them quickly because they can stain your pots.
I have to admit, after seeing a mushroom in my home it put me in the mood to try and find mushrooms in the wild. Luckily, I live fairly close to a nature preserve and it has been rainy the past few days. So Editor and I went on a quick nature hike and look at what we found!
Turkey Tail mushrooms! These are technically edible, DMMs, in that they are not toxic. I've heard they are kind of tough so maybe eat them as a last resort. From what I've been able to find the Turkey Tail is mostly used for its medicinal value. So maybe dry it and make it into a tea? Yeah...don't do that. Just leave it be so that others can admire. What about some more stereotypical looking mushrooms?
Okay...some sort of Cap Mushroom that's for sure. I can't really make out what type these at at this distance. Why didn't I just get closer? Simple. They were protected.....
By a cactus patch! I don't know what this Prickly Pear is doing here but there was a large growth that I wasn't going to mess with. I ain't got no flying shoes, DMMs! So those mushrooms will have to remain a mystery. How about something a bit more close up?
The Shelf Mushroom! Go into the woods and you will see these all over the place. Some are great to eat like the fabled Chicken of the Woods. Others just look pretty. What is neat about them all is they can live for years! These mushrooms live off the tree and just keep growing little by little each season. They are necessary to break down dead parts of trees, DMMs, so just let them do their thing.
Did you have a fun time talking fungi, DMMs? I know I sure did. My ignorance of nature doesn't stop me from admiring how beautiful mushrooms are. And it's always a good reason to go for a walk in the woods! Come back next week when we will use another familiar ingredient but in an entirely different way. OH! And maybe talk some dark secrets!
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