Today, Dusty went looking for our dogs who escaped from their enclosure only to find

Today, Dusty went looking for our dogs who escaped from their enclosure only to find 

Porcinis ! 

Boletus edulis var.grandedulis Arora & Simonini.

A gloriously regal and magnificently massive, choice edible mushroom species (hint: "edulis" means edible). 

Most people have heard of the historic drought afflicting northern California but, like a pendulum swinging, the rainy season has re-started with gusto, bringing up fruitings of many edibles in prodigious quantities. The contrast between last year and this year is amazing. Many mycologists think that, during a dry year,  the mycelium accumulates nutrients, and stores them until the rains return the next season. Then, the mushroom fruitings are much more massive. 

True ? Who knows for sure ? The ways of mushrooms remain enticingly and delectably mysterious !

For more information on books listing this delectable species, and others,  see www.fungi.com

For regional information on porcini, see
http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Boletus_edulis.html

Have fungus, will travel. 
Paul Stamets