Morels with "edimentals" of the season

Stephen Barstow coined the term "edimental" to describe plants which are both edible and ornamental.

Here is another pasta primavera with morels, ramp flowers, Hylotelephium maximum (smørbukk) and seeds from Ulmus glabra (almenøtter). 

O happy day!

Come to me, my beauty. Morchella elata/Morel/Spissmorkel

The best Spring can offer: St George's Mushrooms and Morels

By George!

Found 21 May 2015

Follow the mushrooms!

Turn the mushroom and smell the gills. A bunch of newbies said they smelled petrol, rancid oil, walnut and even something fermented. However, according to the "official" literature in Norway, St George's are to smell mealy (wet flour) or even of pancake batter. Go figure!  

Finally, morels on my plate

Morchella elata/Spissmorkel

Tomorrow is 17th of May, the Norwegian National Day. But as far as I am concerned, the main celebrations are today as I found morels for the first time this season.

Pasta primavera with spring asparagus, filet of beef and, yes, crispy fried morels.

Looking for the old guy in Ringerike, Norway

Sarcosoma globosum/Svartgubbe

These wonderful mushrooms were thought to be extinct for over 70 years in Norway before they were found on 1 May 2009, to the excitement of the whole mycological community in Norway. They used to be fairly common in the old days and children used to pick them up to throw at each other in the manner of snowball fights. These days, as endangered species, we walk around them in awe, pick them up gingerly and feel their weird jelly weight, before placing them carefully back on the ground. In Sweden, where they are more common, some bakeries make chocolate fondants in their shape. That must be worth a pilgrimage too.  Story in Norwegian

Spring mushroom foray in Kjaglidalen, Norway

Kjaglidalen in Norway is a nature reserve on the outskirts of the capital of Oslo. Every spring Prof Klaus Høiland leads a foray to the valley to look specifically for spring mushrooms, including several Morchella species. The valley is known for its unique flora, fauna and geology. The rule is that one is not allowed to pick anything from the forest EXCEPT the mushrooms. Sometimes mycological justice does prevail.

We found the elusive Discina gigas (Snowbank false morel/Blek sandmorkel)

 Discina gigas was a first for many in the group. 

Unfortunately, no other morels were found.

  

Sarcoscypha austriaca (Scarlet elf cups/Skarlagen vårbeger) lined both sides of the walk

Matteuccia struthiopteris (Fiddleheads/Strutsevinger) and
Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemones/Hvitveis)

Fiddleheads and scarlet elf cups
Strutsevinger og skarlagen vårbeger