Wow, i just found a nice haul of St georges,. Spotted one largeish quite manky and 1/2 eaten one and then as i looked closer there were almost 50 in about 2-3sqm area. Many were only button size upto maybe 3inches so i guess they are quite young? (this is my 1st find so i am no expert).
I'm in wiltshire and although we have had some rain the ground has been really dry (crackling under foot in the woods). Had some heavier continious rain a few days ago so i guess conditions are right. They were right at the edge of a path through mixed woodland in an area of decidious trees, fighting there way out of moss and bluebells.
Way back in march i found what i thought were a few button size st georges in the same woods but in an area of pine with a carpet of moss all around. They were only button size but seemed to be dried up and i couldnt tell if they were spring growth or remnenants of last year (there were many old stump puffballs around the area that i know were left from last year) and i have a healthy caution of white gilled mushrooms, especially coupled with a yellowish cap. I spotted 3 or 4 and was hopeful that more were going to grow and i would be able to confirm as st georges but nothing appeared, so i had assumed that they may well have been something that survived the winter.
Had to use my jumper to carry them all today as i didn't bother taking a bag as i was expecting to come home empty handed again, happy days
There are dyads saddles around and i think i spotted a young chicken of the woods today also.
nice haul ,still grade them when you get home and reject any old mangy ones ,they are not very pleasant!!! I do mine with smoky bacon garlic dry white wine black olives little thyme parmesan and have them either with pasta or rice pilaf.
Thanks, that sounds nice I will be giving thast a go. I cooked up a rissotto with the 1st one, very nice I'm glad they taste better than they smell (not unpleasant smelling but who wants to eat playdo
Had another look around the area and found a small troop of edible specimens and a massive patch of brown inedible older ones - I must have walked right by these numerous time, oh well at least i now have my eye in and a good St george spot for next year. Definately makes it all worth while when you find a new species for the 1st time Now if only i could find some Morels.....
the darker top ones have'nt gone off ,they are a st, georges sub-species ,you get the white ones and the beige/dark cream ones they are both the same .
Thanks good to know about sub species, for the future. The spot was very damp and bluebells were dieing back on top of them. They seemed slimey and were falling apart and some were mouldy, definately not appealing