Sunday, August 21, 2022

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 firstIMG_1946

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.


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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.

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


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


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


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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.

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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.

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Black trumpets.  A closer look.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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Several handmade wreaths were unwrapped.

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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


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


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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.

25 comments:

  1. How fun to do a social gathering of Christmas in July. Your gift was very appropriate for you. Nice to have an expert for mushroom foraging, I'm always skeptical about some of the ones I see, not sure if poisonous or not!

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    1. Mushrooms are definitely a thing to be very careful of Laurie.

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  2. Sherry we stayed there years ago. Loved the location too. Tried to get a reservation this summer but booked. Love your commentary!

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    1. Yes I think I was lucky to be able to stay for two months. How early did you try to book? You came up as anonymous so I have no idea who you are. Wish you had signed your comment but thanks for it.

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  3. That's so cool to come across someone who knows so much about mushrooms and can guide you what's safe to eat! A holiday celebration in July, how fun. Makes me panic to think about how many weeks left to get my holiday craft inventory restocked! it will go fast....

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    1. It was wonderful to be able to go out with Tom who is so willing to share his knowledge. So glad I don't have to panic about the holiday. Good luck with your inventory.

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  4. I would love to see all the mushrooms, but an very leary of eating them. Three of the six family members who lived in our house before us when I was a kid, died from poison mushrooms. So I am dubious about eating wild mushrooms. Although I love mushrooms. Christmas in July sounds like fun.

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    1. As you've noticed I'm fascinated with mushrooms but like you leary since I know so little. What a tragic story about the family who lost 3 people from poisoning.

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  5. Oyster mushrooms are one of my favorites. Nice to go with someone who knows. I haven't done Christmas in July in probably 30 years. Still don't know what's wrong with my commenting thing. But I see yours knows me now.

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    1. Both the oysters and the black trumpets were delicious. So sorry about the problem for me with comment on your blog. Yours knows me too but won't let me post.

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  6. What a great idea, that looks like fun, Christmas in July. Anything for entertainment I guess. I have never learned mushrooms. I see them, enjoy looking at them, but never really got into id'ing them. Fun photos.

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    1. It was fun seeing what everyone opened and watching folks steal gifts from each other. It's a campground tradition apparently and luckily the campground is wonderfully small enough to do it.

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  7. Hi Sherry, Thanks for sharing your blog site address. Maggie and I enjoyed spending time with you here at Riverbend and look forward to (hopefully) seeing you in October.

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    1. So good to see you in the comments Tom. Hope you'll come back often and see what I'm up to. Thanks SO much for sharing your knowledge. If I misidentified anything here I wish you'd let me know. Looking forward to see you guys in October.

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  8. Oh, I wish that Tom had been there when we were at Riverbend last year! Eric and I love hunting for mushrooms, but there are only a handful that we feel comfortable harvesting (so that we don't kill ourselves, LOL). What a great experience for you! We've harvested a lot of boletes on the Oregon Coast and the one in your photo doesn't look the same as what we've gathered, but I know there are many different kinds of boletes. The Christmas in July party looks like fun.

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    1. Tom and Maggie were real highlights of my stay at Riverbend. Only wish I'd met them sooner. I was hoping if I'd misidentified that Tom would let me know but maybe he's too nice.

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  9. What a treat for you to find an expert with your love of fungi in the forest!! I'm still amazed at the variety you find on your own. We've done several white elephant holiday gift gatherings but never with peeps we didn't know well - looks like it was still great fun!!

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    1. It was a real treat Jodee. Wish they would travel around with me. :-)

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  10. I'd be out of my depth trying to figure out mushrooms.

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    1. Yes, me too William that's why it was so great to meet Tom.

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  11. I only forage for mushrooms in grocery stores. That way I know I'm eating a mushroom that won't do me in! ;c)

    Christmas in July! Thanks for reminding me I'd better get busy shopping for the December one. With our nine grandkids it takes a lot of time to get ready.

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    1. Grocery foraging isn't nearly as much fun. Usually I never pick but Tom knows his stuff. 9 grandchildren. Oh my. Hope Marti helps you with gifts and remembering their birthdays.;-)

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  12. How fun to meet Tom! I imagine he enjoys sharing his knowledge with someone as interested as I know you are. Love that your gift was Arbor Mist. The color matched Peggy's outfit! Fun tradition with neat decorations.

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    1. I know nothing about Arbor Mist so I have no idea why you love it. It was fruity and pretty so I took a chance.

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  13. I believe that the mushroom that you thought might be a bolete is actually a saffron milkcap.

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