Fruits of a Wet Warm End of Summer

Not exactly colored to blend in
Not exactly colored to blend in

More chanterelles, if I’m not mistaken. They’re considered edible-choice by some, don’t know why I’ve never bothered to cook up a mess with scrambled eggs or add to a stroganoff.

Part of the reason may be my general caution with things red, yellow or orange. In nature, those colors (think coral snake or the deadly Amanitas) tend to mean “stay clear!”

With the “recurrent” gills along the outside of the upwardly fluted cap, these are easy to clean, if so small it would take many dozens to feed more than one person.

What should be coming along soon that can be gathered in large numbers are the honeycaps–GI-disturbing to some–that are a sign of decay of otherwise healthy trees.

On another note: We have four laying hens this morning and they’re not happy. As the sun comes up, I can hear them with the windows closed and above the creek noise. Neighbors who provided them (and the new hen house–pix coming soon) suggest leaving them in the house with food and water x 24 hours then in the 8 x 18 run for 2 more days before free-ranging. Also need slow intro of chicken smells to dog, then birds themselves. Outta be interesting!

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fred
fred

Fred First holds masters degrees in Vertebrate Zoology and physical therapy, and has been a biology teacher and physical therapist by profession. He moved to southwest Virginia in 1975 and to Floyd County in 1997. He maintains a daily photo-blog, broadcasts essays on the Roanoke NPR station, and contributes regular columns for the Floyd Press and Roanoke's Star Sentinel. His two non-fiction books, Slow Road Home and his recent What We Hold in Our Hands, celebrate the riches that we possess in our families and communities, our natural bounty, social capital and Appalachian cultures old and new. He has served on the Jacksonville Center Board of Directors and is newly active in the Sustain Floyd organization. He lives in northeastern Floyd County on the headwaters of the Roanoke River.

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  1. Yeah, right… chickens in the house. Can’t you find perfectly good eggs for sale in and around Floyd? I’m with Tsuga – I wouldn’t want them around either.

  2. Believe me: this is NOT MY idea. Yes, you can find free-range eggs everywhere, but we MUST have them in case the SKY IS FALLING.

    Might just.

    But we don’t eat that many eggs, after all. It’s the idea (illusion) of self-sufficiency that appeals, I think, while I will be Chief Pooper Scooper and Executive Executioner. Joy!

  3. They’ll eat lots of bugs in the garden for you – free of charge! If you make a chicken tractor, you can control where they scratch and aerate the soil. Or so I’ve read ….

  4. I love your gorgeous bright orange fungi, Fred! And all the other fungi you have given us recently. The backlit one, shot from below is the most impressive feat of photography.

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