The Return of UNCLE YUMMY

The word cyclical means to go in cycles. Pair it up with nature and you are looking at patterns and developments that re-occur on a regular basis in nature. For example the life CYCLE of a plant is the same over and over with other plants of the same species.  "The emergence of periodical cicadas or 17-year locusts of the genus Magicicada has been observed in the eastern woodland areas of the United States since 1633 or 1634 when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony first encountered them. 


 

It's been near 17 years since my friend ronbo has ventured across the big river from his home in Galena, Illinois.








We hit the timber near my home and then we ventured cross country to marty's












Marty has his wood up for the year.  looks like about six cords.  wood pile envy.

Time to sit back in the summer kitchen while ronbo takes in all that joanie and mart have been up to.  








like the new garden shed.    


























Down the road and over into the next valley to chappyland, to say hi to max and clarence.
























A few sprinkles on the pond and some time for a few casts.

Then over to check out the new sod job around the cabin.

Ronbo admiring the cottonwood while mart heads up the stairs to the deck. 

There are six species of periodical cicadas, three with a 17-year cycle and three with a 13-year cycle. Some American Indians thought their periodic appearance had an evil significance. 
I don't know about that but i hope i don't have to wait another decade for the moral mushroom migration of uncle yummy.

SATURDAY MORNING HIKE.

 Wanted to get the dogs out and look who tagged along, TuZoo.  We hit the southern slopes hoping to find a few mushrooms.

 This is one of my favorite places to cross the ravine is this old oak.

 Maxine hit the spa for a mud bath and facial.

 What a mess.











Nice rub.  no sheds this year.  even though we've put in the leg work.

 

 At first when i snapped the picture I only saw the one.  But, once I looked a little closer!  about 2.5 lbs

OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

 The mushroom hunting is in full swing.  Morels can be found in many different habitats, and sometimes in places where you wouldn't expect them to be anywhere around. Good places to look are around oaks, ash trees, elm trees, poplar groves, apple orchards and the edges of fields and power lines. Look for the "old forest" areas to hunt in, this is prime 'shroom country.

Susie ventured off the beaten path and found a hotspot for the mushrooms this spring.  Wednesday evening she picked 5 lbs.



 Beau rolled in on Thursday and the two of them picked another 5 lbs.  They took me to their patch and we pick another 2 lbs. between the three of us not too shabby.

So where do all those mushrooms come from?

The spores from the fungus drop from the "holes" in the cap, other mushrooms have gills under the cap. After these microscopic spores have dropped mycelium begins to grow under the ground in the first inch or two of dirt mainly on wood chip/decomposing wood and it needs high humidity and a good temperature. Most mushroooms need a temp of 79-82 degrees F but with morels it is believed it is 50-75 degrees due to them coming out in early spring. After the mycelium has colonized 100% of the substrate it's growing on/in it will begin to create fruit bodys from the mycelium and the mushroom itself actually grow in about 3-10 days depending on size, conditions, weather, moisture, whole list of variables. The mycelium needs a few things to grow the right temp, right decomposing wood, right moisture content, high humidity, and shade.