the oyster mushroom robbing of 2008... Last October, I went trouncing outside with my camera in hand to get some fresh air, maybe a few snapshots, and most importantly, to clear my head. One of the first things I noticed that completely floored me were these amazing, puffy, cream-colored mushrooms that were growing in large clumps up an old, dead Hemlock tree towards the end of my driveway. These mushrooms (shown above and below) were completely captivating. I think I must have taken over 30 shots of them alone. And thankfully I did, because the next morning as I went out to pick-up the Sunday paper, I looked up to greet my new discovery only to be startled by their total disappearance. They all were gone. I was heart broken and completely confused at what could have made them disappear. Then we talked to our neighbor.
So the story goes something like this. My neighbor was outside getting his mail when a car with two elderly men pull along my driveway and get out with buckets in hand. The men explain to my neighbor that they're mushroom hunting and that these pretty cream puffs on my Hemlock are actually a delicacy called Oyster mushrooms. They promptly raked my tree bare of the mushrooms and shared some of their harvest with my neighbor to try. My neighbor was so excited to taste them, that he went straight to his house and tossed them into his omelet. They were so good, he forgot to save a taste for us to try.
But we're smarter this year. I shot the photo above this morning and as you can see, Oyster mushroom buds are starting to litter the old, dead hemlock once again. We're going to have to stay on our tip toes to keep guard as these tasty treats grow. Wouldn't want to be robbed again!
Last fall's crop of Oyster mushrooms climbing up the Hemlock.
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