Shrooming with Tom & Christmas in July

July 16, 2022                                                                     Most Recent Posts:
Riverbend Campground                                                   Carl Sandburg
Lake Toxaway, North Carolina                               Llamas in Pathertown

Today I took a break from waterfall hiking and was lucky enough to go for my first

hike around the campground with the campground mushroom expert Tom Barham, also known locally as the mushroom man.  I was so busy looking and harvesting that I don’t have a lot of pictures but it was amazing.  I only wish I could remember half of what he told me.  His eyes are incredible for scanning the area and honing right in on things I hadn’t even seen.

I believe this is type of coral fungi.  You’d think with all the mushrooms I photograph that I’d have learned a few things by now.  If you can identify any of these please comment and let me know.

We found these oyster mushrooms on a tree stump behind the  RV of our friend Marge. 

Tom used his tools to harvest them.    He has special scissors, a plastic container and then he puts them in bags.

This I “think” is some sort of bolete.  If you know mushrooms, please help me out.

This I know is a black trumpet.  We found a lot of them and Tom shared with me.  Later, I sautéed them and the oysters.  Both were delicious.

Down on the ground to cut more black trumpets.  They are small and hide in the leaves.  Don’t think you can even see them in this picture unless you look very closely.

Black trumpets.  A closer look.

Tom belongs to a Mycological Society in his hometown and they go on frequent foragings.   I’m not anywhere long enough to join such a group and learn from them.  I did find there is one in the Nelson County area just over 20 miles from the farm.  They meet once a month and hopefully I can go to at least one meeting while I am there.

Can’t thank Tom enough for sharing his vast knowledge with me even if I can’t remember.  Wish he and his wonderful wife Maggie were traveling along with me.  I hope to keep in touch with them.  They were a highlight of my time at Riverbend.

This evening was the annual Christmas in July party.  You’ve all probably done this at one time or another.  Everyone brings a wrapped gift and puts it under the tree.  We draw numbers and the person with #1 chooses a gift.  #2 can choose a gift or take the gift of #1 and so on.  The one who loses a gift then can choose or steal another gift.   Once a gift has been stolen, twice it is safe.

It was great fun and manager Rosemary was very happy with her alcoholic shots.

Several handmade wreaths were unwrapped.

Pam chose to try hers as a hat.

When asking what I should bring as a gift to this group, I was told alcohol was always a favorite.  As a non drinker, I was wishing David was here to advise.  But apparently I did OK with this wine which Peggy stole so it appears she was happy to have it.

I was #2 and unwrapped a gift of car wax and towels.  They were soon stolen so I then stole Maggie’s gift of some delicious crackers, goat cheese and Tom’s apparently famous pepper jelly.  Why I didn’t take a picture of it I have no idea.  But it was delicious.  Instead, here is a picture of Maggie and Tom

After everyone left I took some pictures of the lovely decorations Rosemary had put up for us to enjoy during “the week before Christmas”.

More hikes next time.  Hope you aren’t tiring of them.  I never do.  But then I’m there in real time and you are stuck with pictures and videos.