I imagine that, if more Morels did finally push their way up above ground the past couple of days, the 29 degree temps at night zapped them. But not before we found enough to add to the potatoes and carrots simmering in the gravy of the roast from Sweet Providence served with our “Goose Beans” from last year’s garden.
And here, another edible, since I had the realization after my two hikes along Rock Castle Creek last week, that a hungry person lost in the woods this time of year, need not starve. Ramps, morels, giant chickweed, greenbrier shoots, garlic mustard, watercress, branch lettuce…just to name some safe edibles we saw over less than two miles along the creek, where…
…we were stopped by a Patrick County Sheriff on the way out last Saturday. Seems a 66 year old man from out of state was missing, and we came to learn the next day that some of his possessions had been found along the trail AND that his wife had died the year before. I speculated he saw the gorge as a good place to just lay down and die. Seems that might indeed have been the case. He was found yesterday by search dogs in a very rough part of the gorge, dead of apparently self-inflicted wounds.
Fred,
We’ve only found two morels on our farm, ever, having owned it since 1975. And though I’ve searched the same place where the two appeared, have never found one again. Nor elsewhere. Could you, generally speaking, give a description of the likely habitat for morels? Also, there is some indication in a field guide I read, that a “poisonous” morel exists…is that true?
Elora