I have kind of a love-hate relationship with mushrooms. I grew up loathing them; being forced to try “just one more bite” before I could leave the table. Now I largely like them; shiitake, oyster, enoki… anything but the bland, styrofoamy “white mushroom.” Oh, and they all have to be cooked before they cross my palette.
Nevertheless, I find myself wanting to grow my own. I love the idea of being able to harvest something as exotic and gourmet as shiitakes, or Chicken of the Woods for that matter.
As you can see from these photos, I actually do grow my own. Except I’m not trying to. And I can’t eat them because I have no idea what they are and don’t feel like dying from a toxic mushroom. But I love them! I don’t understand why people want to eliminate them.
These make me want to find a miniature gnome or Smurf figurine and give it a home.
You can buy shiitake starter kits at Dominion Seed House.
Nanette Spurway says
I love painting mushroooms in oils on canvas. Prefer the large mushrooms, if you have any pictures I would love to paint them.
Regards
Nan
eleanor says
I too love the mushroom, and if you came across the one at top again you should definitely look into it. The wood blewit is easy to identify (lovely lavendar) and delicious!