A very late, damp Spring. A brief, cool summer, with no real rain in July and August. That scenario was our reality on the southern Oregon coast this year, and we weren't optimistic as we looked ahead to fall mushrooming season. Searching our memories for the ingredients to good years past, a rain or two in summer seemed an important factor... and we'd had none. "Another year of slim pickin's," I groused to Mary. When our rains finally came in early September, first a day or two with 1/2" total earlier in the month, and then a pretty serious rain that deposited more than 4" on us at the month's mid-point, we both suspected it was too little, too late.
We needn't have worried.
We collected a number of white chanterelles.
The fall season is now off and running, and all indications are that it will be one of the best in years. Last Sunday night, our friend Jake, the mushroom buyer in Coos Bay (and one of the most knowledgeable folks around these parts), told us he thinks it will be the best season in at least six years, and added that if it continues like this, in another week, his pickers won't be able to keep up with them! He told us this as he and his assistant stacked trays of fresh new 'shrooms, and his clean, well-equipped shack was full of pickers, busily cleaning their day's haul.
The golden chanterelles were more pervelant.
That's good news indeed after a couple of relatively "down" years, and we were figuratively "champing at the bit" as the weather cleared and warmed, just in time for the weekend of September 25th.
We weren't disappointed. On Saturday afternoon, beneath sunny skies and with temperatures in the high 60's, we easily found over 12 lbs. of beautiful, fully developed Chanterelles, a higher than normal percentage of them whites, in less than two hours on our property. And that weight was after cleaning, trimming and drying on newspaper overnight, as we always do.
Even better, it was clear to us that the season is just beginning; some favorite spots that are usually reliable haven't "turned on" yet, and we expect that in another two or three weeks, the South Coast will have some outstanding mushrooming... and it should stay that way for a good long while, barring some really unusual weather.
We also found several nice Lobsters (more popular with many folks than they are with us). We encountered no Boletes and few other mushrooms... just Chanterelles (no, we're not complaining, just reporting).
What an incredible color in this lobster!
The reports we've heard from elsewhere around the Northwest have been encouraging, too. We haven't yet visited the Mt. Hood area this fall, but will next weekend, and will report soon on what we find. Meanwhile, dear readers, get out there to your favorite spots soon and often... we think you'll be glad you did!
Steve
P.S. a reminder: fall mushrooming and hunting seasons overlap in most places. If you're out in the woods at such times, be sure to wear plenty of safety orange. This might not be your own personal fashion statement, but it could just save your life!