In Aberdeen we’re usually a few weeks ‘behind’ compared to more southern parts of the UK. It takes a long time to warm up here, and if I were a mushroom I’d definitely pull the duvet over my head and hit snooze.
So you can imagine the “fungus envy” I’ve experienced over the past month when looking at all the photos posted by my foraging friends in England… Until this week, that is! When running to the pool I was stopped in my tracks by this beautiful specimen growing at the side of the road:
It was huge, larger than a stretched-out hand, and in perfect condition. I took it with me into the gym (didn’t want to leave it to pick up on the return journey, just in case a. someone else found it, or b. the bin collectors would trample on it) and I must have received a few weird looks in the changing room…
Sometimes Dryad’s saddles of this size can be a bit tough, but this one was beautifully succulent. The uncut flesh smells of cucumber, and when cooked it’s a bit like an oyster crossed with a velvet shank.
Then on Friday, on my ‘fake commute’ (when working from home I go for a long walk at the end of the day to make the psychological switch) I nearly stumbled over this delightful mushroom:
My Facebook feed has been full of (English) St. George’s for a while now, so finding my own here in Aberdeen made me go through the roof with excitement! It really is a wonderful thing to pick (nice and sturdy) and eat (very strong flavour), and even just hold in your hand and sniff (slightly sweet and floury).
I also found another Spring Cavalier yesterday (plus 3 kilograms of rhubarb), so we felt thoroughly spoilt by our natural world this weekend. Thank you!
The healthy forager 