Woodland fungi

There it was. I was sure it wasn't there a day or two ago. An unseasonal warm spell and toadstools suddenly seem to appear at this time of year -

Overnight, very

Whitely, discreetly,

Very quietly

as Sylvia Plath described it with such economy of word.

This one was an ink cap, I think, though I wouldn't trust my judgement. An Ithinkcap maybe.

LotH and myself have consumed wild fungi in the past but only with some trepidation and after much book and internet searching. We have survived but it is a hazardous business. Penny Bun ceps found in a pine wood; parasol mushrooms from under a hedge; puffballs supplied by a farmer friend, sliced and dipped in egg like mushroomy french toast; we've enjoyed them all but always there was that doubt even with the obviously edible ones.  Make one mistake and it's curtains!

How did Man ever discover what was safe and indeed, good to eat and what was not? Are we indebted to long-forgotten Palaeolithic heroes who tried and tasted and survived... or didn't?

Perhaps there should be a statue to the unknown fungi eater who paved the way.

Thank goodness for greengrocers and mushroom farmers.

 Deadly fly agaric ...one to avoid!!