Today I met up with my friends Robin and Jamie for a walk in the woods looking for oyster mushrooms. Oysters almost always fruit right around this time, but this year with the long drawn-out winter, some things are late. We found a couple trees starting to show oysters, which should be fruiting in a week or so, but we saw none fruiting.

Although we didn’t find mushrooms, we did find all kinds of interesting things in the forest. For instance, Robin pointed out some beautiful Jack in the Pulpit.

Then there was this fascinating tree. I wonder what caused it to grow like this?

We didn’t notice them on the walk into the forest, but on the walk out we found a patch of ramps, and harvested enough for a couple dinners. Ramps, or Allium tricoccum, are also known as wild leeks. They are edible perennials which have a strong garlic-like flavour. Very good indeed!

Jamie and Robin came across a swallowtail butterfly which had just emerged.

It turned out to be a great walk. I had Memphis and Georgie along and my friends brought their pup Georgia, so the dogs had a great time too, especially when they discovered mud-puddles.