Greetings -

It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current
house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
Montana. And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard. So
I picked it.

It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed box
and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm not
going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in butter with
some garlic for dinner tonight.

Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?

<grin>

MJB

"MJB" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings -
>
> It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current
> house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
> Montana. And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard.
> So I picked it.
>
> It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
> smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
> Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed
> box and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm
> not going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in
> butter with some garlic for dinner tonight.
>
> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>
> <grin>
>
> MJB
>

Yep. Make sure your will is in order, and someone knows which bills need to
be paid while you're in the hospital with your liver slowly deteriorating.
Good luck.

MJB wrote:

> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?


A friend from Germany told me that pharmacists there are trained in
recognizing poisonous mushrooms. The town was small and near a wooded
area. It was common practice to go foraging for mushrooms, then drop by
the local pharmacy so the pharmacist could check over the haul and
pronounce them safe. THEN home to sautee them in butter.


Are you anywhere near a university with a botany department, a major
airport where there might be an inspector, or somewhere else where there
might be someone trained who could recognize poisonous from non-poisonous?


--Lia

"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
. ..
> MJB wrote:
>
>> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>
>
> Are you anywhere near a university with a botany department, a major
> airport where there might be an inspector, or somewhere else where there
> might be someone trained who could recognize poisonous from non-poisonous?
>

Like I said, I'm in the middle of Montana so any universtity with botany
departments are at least five hours away by car. I've got inky caps all
over my gravel driveway, puffballs peeking their heads up on my fence
border, some monsterous brown shelf fungus that's almost a foot long and
several inches thick stacked several deep on an enormous stump in my front
yard and now these big white things standing-up in my lawn. And puffballs
are damn fine eating....

I've got a couple of books on wild mushrooms and the id seems consistant.
I've just so goddamn many of the things in my backyard that some of 'em
better be eatable!

MJB

"MJB" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> MJB wrote:
>>
>>> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>>
>>
>> Are you anywhere near a university with a botany department, a major
>> airport where there might be an inspector, or somewhere else where there
>> might be someone trained who could recognize poisonous from
>> non-poisonous?
>>
>
> Like I said, I'm in the middle of Montana so any universtity with botany
> departments are at least five hours away by car. I've got inky caps all
> over my gravel driveway, puffballs peeking their heads up on my fence
> border, some monsterous brown shelf fungus that's almost a foot long and
> several inches thick stacked several deep on an enormous stump in my front
> yard and now these big white things standing-up in my lawn. And
> puffballs are damn fine eating....
>
> I've got a couple of books on wild mushrooms and the id seems consistant.
> I've just so goddamn many of the things in my backyard that some of 'em
> better be eatable!
>
> MJB
>
>

How far's the nearest hospital? Last year, I heard an NPR news story about
mushroom hunters. They interviewed a botanist who said even the experts make
mistakes sometimes. When he finds a new batch in the wild, he checks them in
whatever way is acceptable (maybe like what you're doing). But, he also runs
them by a colleague.

"MJB" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings -
>
> It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current
> house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
> Montana. And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard.
> So I picked it.
>
> It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
> smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
> Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed
> box and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm
> not going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in
> butter with some garlic for dinner tonight.
>
> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>
> <grin>
>
> MJB
Post us a note in a day or two and let us know you're ok. Also write down
your observations on the mushroom, color, pattern, etc. and leave an
uncooked bit in a box in the fridge. Maybe take a photo of it. The easier it
is for the ER to identify what you ate...
My brother decided to chomp on a nice looking mushroom in the yard and
spent 3 weeks in detox with a bleeding stomach. He almost died. I don't
think he spent much time identifying it tho, and we were not foresters in
our family. Must have been testosterone poisoning to begin with...
Edrena

"MJB" > wrote:
> It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current house
> in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in Montana. And
> this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard. So I picked it.
>
> It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
> smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
> Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed box
> and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm not going
> to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in butter with some
> garlic for dinner tonight.
>
> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?

This reminds me of the following statement in the Joy of Cooking:

"There are bold mushroom hunters and old mushroom hunters, but no bold old
mushroom hunters"

As a side note, a lot of things that smell and taste good are quite toxic.
Antifreeze, for example.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

"wff_ng_7" > wrote in message
news:aql4i.4947$qp5.3578@trnddc03...
> "MJB" > wrote:
>> It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current
>> house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
>> Montana. And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard.
>> So I picked it.
>>
>> It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
>> smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
>> Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed
>> box and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm
>> not going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in
>> butter with some garlic for dinner tonight.
>>
>> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>
> This reminds me of the following statement in the Joy of Cooking:
>
> "There are bold mushroom hunters and old mushroom hunters, but no bold old
> mushroom hunters"
>
> As a side note, a lot of things that smell and taste good are quite toxic.
> Antifreeze, for example.
>

Here's an on-line key:

It's not staining yellow or red when cut, it's spore print is chocolate
brown, the gills are pink turning brownish.

http://www.svims.ca/council/Agari2.htm

Its 105a Agaricus campestris

So it's whats for dinner.

MJB

On May 21, 12:49�pm, "MJB" > wrote:
> Greetings -
>
> It's been raining here in the high plains. *And I moved into my current
> house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
> Montana. *And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard.. *So
> I picked it.
>
> It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. *And it
> smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. *I do believe it's
> Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. *So right now it's in a sealed box
> and I'm taking a spore pattern. *And once I've satisfied myself I'm not
> going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in butter with
> some garlic for dinner tonight.
>
> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?

I strongly suggest you google for a local mycology club to ask for
information. The general rule for wild mushrooms you're unsure of and
can't find someone who can make an ID is to eat only a very small
portion of one mushroom and wait 24 hours. If there are no adverse
reactions then the next time that same type of mushroom is available
from the same spot eat a slightly larger amount... keep increasing
your portion. And then never eat a large quantity of any wild
mushrooms regardless. You can get lucky being piggish 99 times, it's
that last time that you will die. There are quite a few poisonous
mushrooms that mimic the safe ones so closely that even the experts
can't tell. Since you are so interested in mushrooms and seem to have
many on your property I would also strongly suggest that you join a
local mycology club.

Sheldon Toadstool

In article >, "MJB" >
wrote:

> Greetings -
>
> It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current
> house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
> Montana. And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard. So
> I picked it.
>
> It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
> smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
> Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed box
> and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm not
> going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in butter with
> some garlic for dinner tonight.
>
> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?


I googled "edible lawn mushrooms" and came up empty. Be careful. I
vaguely recall checking out this topic years ago and found that none of
the several lawn mushrooms I checked out were edible.

"MJB" > wrote:
> Here's an on-line key:
>
> It's not staining yellow or red when cut, it's spore print is chocolate brown,
> the gills are pink turning brownish.
>
> http://www.svims.ca/council/Agari2.htm
>
> Its 105a Agaricus campestris
>
> So it's whats for dinner.

It's just that I wouldn't trust my own judgement based on something I read in a
book (even with color pictures and plenty of explanation). I'd need to have
someone with some experience who has eaten them before verify my identification.
It's a shame, because so often I'll see tons of wild mushrooms that are probably
fine, but I'd never be comfortable eating them.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

On May 21, 10:49 am, "MJB" > wrote:
> Greetings -
>
> It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current
> house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
> Montana. And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard. So
> I picked it.
>
> It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
> smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
> Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed box
> and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm not
> going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in butter with
> some garlic for dinner tonight.
>
> Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>
> <grin>
>
> MJB

where are you in Montana? The mushrooms that pop up on my lawn here in
Great Falls (Montana) are poisonous.
red

On May 21, 6:30�pm, " > wrote:
> On May 21, 10:49 am, "MJB" > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Greetings -
>
> > It's been raining here in the high plains. *And I moved into my current
> > house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
> > Montana. *And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard. *So
> > I picked it.
>
> > It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. *And it
> > smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. *I do believe it's
> > Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. *So right now it's in a sealed box
> > and I'm taking a spore pattern. *And once I've satisfied myself I'm not
> > going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in butter with
> > some garlic for dinner tonight.
>
> > Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>
> > <grin>
>
> > MJB
>
> where are you in Montana?

The OP said central Montana.

> The mushrooms that pop up on my lawn here in
> Great Falls (Montana) are poisonous.

Which one is it?� � �

But where doesn't matter a whole lot... many types of mushrooms can
emerge most anywhere.. I'm sure you have more than one type in your
lawn. � � � � � �

Sheldon� � � �

On Mon, 21 May 2007 10:49:22 -0600, "MJB" > wrote:

>Greetings -
>
>It's been raining here in the high plains. And I moved into my current
>house in the late fall, so this is my first spring in my place here in
>Montana. And this morning I found a huge white mushroom in my backyard. So
>I picked it.
>
>It's four inchs across the cap and the stem is three inches long. And it
>smells 'sweet' and extremely aromatic - almost nutty. I do believe it's
>Agaricus augustus - the prince mushroom. So right now it's in a sealed box
>and I'm taking a spore pattern. And once I've satisfied myself I'm not
>going to commit suicide eating it, I fully intend to saute it in butter with
>some garlic for dinner tonight.
>
>Anyone want to give advice before I do myself-in?
>
It's not worth it unless you know for sure. Either educate yourself
or buy your mushrooms from the grocery store.

--
See return address to reply by email

"wff_ng_7" > wrote in message
news:H2m4i.10215$kf1.8822@trnddc01...
> "MJB" > wrote:
>> Here's an on-line key:
>>
>> It's not staining yellow or red when cut, it's spore print is chocolate
>> brown, the gills are pink turning brownish.
>>
>> http://www.svims.ca/council/Agari2.htm
>>
>> Its 105a Agaricus campestris
>>
>> So it's whats for dinner.
>
> It's just that I wouldn't trust my own judgement based on something I read
> in a book (even with color pictures and plenty of explanation). I'd need
> to have someone with some experience who has eaten them before verify my
> identification. It's a shame, because so often I'll see tons of wild
> mushrooms that are probably fine, but I'd never be comfortable eating
> them.
>

I trust my own judgement all the time based upon what I've read in books.
Cooking, auto repair, home repair, computer repair - what I know on those
subjects in particular, I know from books. And this time the book was
correct.

The mushroom was delicious. Perhaps the best cap mushroom I've ever
cooked - and much better than any store-bought shitake I've had.

<grin>

And when the puffballs mature to softball size, I'm going to eat them too.

Thanks to everyone - even the sceptical ones - who thought I'd be in a
morgue right now.

MJB

"MJB" > wrote:
> "wff_ng_7" > wrote:
>> It's just that I wouldn't trust my own judgement based on something I read in
>> a book (even with color pictures and plenty of explanation). I'd need to have
>> someone with some experience who has eaten them before verify my
>> identification. It's a shame, because so often I'll see tons of wild
>> mushrooms that are probably fine, but I'd never be comfortable eating them.
>>
>
> I trust my own judgement all the time based upon what I've read in books.
> Cooking, auto repair, home repair, computer repair - what I know on those
> subjects in particular, I know from books. And this time the book was
> correct.

I also do things based on what I've read in books, but with things that weren't
quite as life threatening. Then again, maybe they were. Here are two things I
did:

1) Ran a gas line in my house to run a gas clothes dryer. I mentioned that to
some coworkers and one of them asked if I was crazy.

2) Rebuilt the front suspension and changed the front and rear wheel bearings on
a 30 year old classic car... and proceeded to drive it at over 100 mph. I did
wonder if I got everything right! ;-)

But on both of those I had something other than a book to go by. My father had
taught me the plumbing trade and my mechanic brother supervised those car
repairs.

> And when the puffballs mature to softball size, I'm going to eat them too.

Well, that's one I've heard is "always safe" (there is some caveat on them
though as to maturity) but the only time I've seen them were times when it was
not convenient for me.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

"wff_ng_7" > wrote in message
news:JBG4i.2173$ky6.739@trnddc02...
> "MJB" > wrote:
>
> I also do things based on what I've read in books, but with things that
> weren't quite as life threatening. Then again, maybe they were. Here are
> two things I did:
>
> 1) Ran a gas line in my house to run a gas clothes dryer. I mentioned that
> to some coworkers and one of them asked if I was crazy.

Plumbing and gas are two things I've left to professionals. I'm pretty
confident about electrical stuff cause I was raised by a master electrician.

>
> 2) Rebuilt the front suspension and changed the front and rear wheel
> bearings on a 30 year old classic car... and proceeded to drive it at over
> 100 mph. I did wonder if I got everything right! ;-)

I once owned and did all the work on a 68 plymouth fury with a 383 commando
v-8. And that car ran best at over 90 mph. And I always wondered if I got
everything right! But since it never crashed, I must have.

>
> But on both of those I had something other than a book to go by. My father
> had taught me the plumbing trade and my mechanic brother supervised those
> car repairs.

Sometimes the book is all you have. And trust in your own experience to
read and understand. I think a lot of it just comes down to a willingnes to
pitch-in and do it. I also was raised in the mountain west - where being
self-reliant is a real virtue. And often times a necessity. Before cell
phones and AAA, I've had to fix a car in the middle of nowhere with just a
flashlight and the tools I've got on hand. Which was why I always traveled
with a fuel pump, a water pump, a complete set of belts and toolbox in the
trunk of said 68 fury. Just in case....

>
>> And when the puffballs mature to softball size, I'm going to eat them
>> too.
>
> Well, that's one I've heard is "always safe" (there is some caveat on them
> though as to maturity) but the only time I've seen them were times when it
> was not convenient for me.

There is no such thing. Unless your wife is going to give birth or
something. Then you just stop for a minute.

<grin>

MJB