Snake River Ramblings with reta

I did not have the heart to dig these up to identify them. They have only been there for two days. But I did look at the stipe and it looked like a Velvet Foot.

Velvet Foots in the making. I have gotten some right here before.

These are the infamous (to Mr. Bill and I) ones we call potato chips. All right what are they? Next is a shot of the underside.

Phaeolus schweinitzii

I cheated this is in my front yard, but I like to keep an eye on it and see if it is growing. It's really starting to spread and break down the stump.

Let Nothing Stand inYour Way!

They are out there!

Trametes versicolor is also found on dead maples along the Snake River.

First Outing of the Year for Reta and Bill

Last year Genny, Mike, Reta and I ventured out on a cold, snowy, drizzley and, yes, miserable day to seek oysters near the end of January. Seemed to have been an omen for the rest of the year since Reta and I sure did experience a lot of cold, snowy, drizzley and, yes, miserable days while seeking mushrooms. Even snakes on a cold snowy day. At least that is Reta's explanation for a sudden jump into the air while walking on rocks used to build up a country road. So this year Reta calls and says, "Let's go hunt some oysters. I have some spotted. It was beautiful and sunny and warm today and is predicted the same for tomorrow." So I, alias, Charlie Brown, says, "Oh, Yeah! How about I be at your house at nine tomorrow morning?" The hunt was on. Well, the day was dreary, ground snow covered and the temp in my pickup never read higher than 35. Well, you all know about the Boise TV weather prognosticators. Imagine if teachers taught like those guys prognosticate?

We walked down below Reta's house to the Snake River and the Fruitland Sewage Lagoons (locally known as Turd Lake) and found her Velvet Foots and Oysters. They were beautifully preserved---hard as ice. My half of the loot is still frozen in my freezer. Reta has posted pictures in the preceding blog. We also found two clumps of oysters on a very, very old tree between the Weiser Community Pond and the swollen Weiser River. The clump was about 15 feet up the tree. Reta had gone to great lengths explaining about her knee injury (some ten or more years ago) and shoulder separation while playing Powder Puff football while running for Miss TVCC Homecoming Queen so I had been prepared to volunteer to climb that tree. That tree was wet and slick as... well you know. So I went and found a long stick, climbed three feet up the tree (figured I could sustain that much of a fall) and proceeded to knock the oysters off their perch. The plan was for Reta to catch them in bucket. You never heard so much screeching and complaining about ice and snow and dirt and bark and even one little piece of mushroom down someone's neck as I heard that day. Well, I got back at her. I hauled her off to Home Depot to help me load two sheets of 3/4" plywood into my truck before I would take her home. Last report I heard this morning was that she was stiff and sore. I will have to admit that I was in bed by 9 last night. Whew! I have got to get in better shape.

Reta, I hope, will edit this blog with some pictures that she took of the adventure and possibly defend the image of her that I have portrayed here. She might even tell about the half wasted away deer that was tangled in the barb wire fence that we walked right next to. She jumped almost as badly over that sight as she does snakes in the rocks.

So, venture forth, the oysters are flushed.

Oyster?

Pleurotus populinus

The city guys cut some cottonwood stumps down and threw them in a pile down by the river. Now, if you confirm that these are indeed what I think they are, I will have my own mushroom farm. reta

Flammulina velutipes

Down by the Snake River on maple.

Flammulina velutipes "Velvet Foot" I believe. I keep getting these in my front yard. Growing on the buried roots of a dead willow. Trouble is, because of bad weather I can not get a decent stipe and/or a spore print.

This is the underside of that mushroom. So I'm thinking it's a Velvet Foot. Right? Or was it that other ____tuft with the dark stipe? reta