I was in a bookshop today but they didn't have the book I wanted. So I went to the desk to see if they could order it. While I was waiting I looked at a book on the counter called A Field Guide To Tasmanian Fungi and I thought what a great book to help ID all the species I see about. I wasn't going to buy it, though, until I noticed that I knew one of the authors, who besides being a mycologist, is a keen chess player.
Been eyeballing these #mushroom logs up at Snow Goose farms for, probably, over a year.
Today, on our weekend day trippin', we swung by to pick up some greens & stuff. In a moment of vulnerability, my partner opened the door, I gave in, and finally picked up a Blue Oyster log.
Here's to hoping I can stuff this into a dark, damp place & make #food happen.🤞
Day 5 (20240531) pic of Blue Oyster #mushroom log:
The left side seems to be zippin along, growing rapidly. Not sure why the right side of the log appears to be lagging behind. Both sides are getting spritzed, lightly, with water evenly. shrug Watch & wonder...
Day 7 (20240602) pic of Blue Oyster #mushroom log:
Nice amount of overnight growth. A bit of a close up on the more active left side of the log. The color of the caps is much paler, to the eye, than the picture implies. The longest stem is
about three inches off the face of the log.
I'm still checking it every few hours & staring at the growth.😄 Fascinating to watch.
Day 8 (20240603) pic of Blue Oyster #mushroom log:
Not too much change since yesterday. Began reading Mushrooms Demystified & chasing down some Blue Oyster specific resources. Apparently, oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are carnivorous. Their mycelia can kill and digest nematodes(roundworms) to obtain nitrogen.
If I am understanding correctly, the mushroom I am growing are Pleurotus ostreatus var. Columbinus (Please correct me if I start spouting mushroom nonsense!)
Day 9 (20240604) pic of Blue Oyster #mushroom log:
Another uneventful night for growth. Last night, I made an impulsive, excutive decision and made some shallow scores with a knife on right side of the log in the hopes that it would faciliate some growth there. So far, that hasn't borne any fruit yet. We shall see.
For those not in the know, this is one of the Amanita #mushrooms referred to as a Destroying Angel. Never, ever, ever, ever #forage with an #app. Especially for mushrooms.