October 4

Riley and I are in a section of the Edmore State Games Area, off S. County Line Rd., 5 miles north of Vestaburg. The early morning weather is sunny and chilly as we make our way to the edge of the Pine River where I pause to watch the gentile current as a reflection from the rising sun appears mid-stream as a flickering flame. Looking around, I notice raccoon tracks on the muddy shore and a signpost indicating an underwater natural gas pipeline across the river channel that raises the question of how a methane leak would impact the surrounding wildlife. Exploring the flood plain, I spot a variety of fresh, fall fungi, starting with Turkey Tail mushrooms. This easy-to-identify mushroom is edible but rather chewy, which is why it's mostly served as a tea or powder in capsule form. Nearby, I come upon Crown-Tipped Coral mushrooms. These can be eaten raw but are most often cooked as they can cause an upset stomach. Further ahead, I see some Orange Peel mushrooms. Contrary to what some “experts” tell us, these are not poisonous and are, in fact, edible, although they really have no taste. On a decaying stump close by, I observe tiny Maramaius mushrooms. Classified as edible, but not desirable, these mushrooms are too small and have little taste. Next, I notice some Red Jelly-spot fungi growing in the crevice of a decomposing log. Even though this “jelly” can be eaten raw, the texture is unpalatable and the taste is like soil. Then, my attention is drawn to some small, pea-size blobs growing on another rotting log. Not classified as fungi, this is a slime mold nicknamed “pink toothpaste slime” because when the blobs are punctured, a pink slime resembling toothpaste squirts out. If accidentally eaten, the slime is non-toxic. Turning around, we start working our way back to the car where I spot red berries of False Solomon Seals. This fruit is quite edible by wildlife, as are the leaves, but not so much for humans. The berries taste bitter. However, they do make good jam or jelly, but need to be cooked well with plenty of sugar added. On the other hand, true Solomon’s Seals berries (stock photo) are poisonous.  Further along the trail, I come upon a Beech Drop plant. These plants are root parasites that lack chlorophyll and possess only small, flat scales in place of leaves so they have no way to photosynthesize. It’s dependence on Beech trees is the only way this little plant can survive. It’s equipped with small root-like structures that insert into the Beech root, thus drawing out just enough nutrition to sustain itself and not harm the tree.

 

Early October

Summer falls asleep

Lady Autumn awakens

In the forest deep

Quaking Aspen leaves

Litter the shady ground

Most are pale yellow

A few, spotted brown

Beside a peaceful glade

Ferns give up their green

Nature’s handiwork

So much for me to glean

 

D. DeGraaf