Locks Park Farm
Thanks for visiting my blog. All entries are presented in chronological order.
I have a small organic farm on the Culm grasslands near Hatherleigh in Devon, with sheep and beef cattle. I've been farming in the county for more than 30 years. I've set up this blog to share views on farming and the countryside - please do give your thoughts.
CPRE
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has helped set up this blog. We want farming to thrive in England, and believe that it is essential that people understand farming and farmers better in order for that to happen. Paula's views expressed here are her own and we won't necessarily share all of them, but we're happy to have helped give her a voice.
Find our more about CPRE and our views on food and farming at our website,
www.cpre.org.uk
10 comments
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October 31, 2007 at 12:34 pm
treehousejukebox
Wow. That’s impressive!
October 31, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Jane
What a big one! no idea what it is though… (even though I have searched the web) you’d get a few mushroom risottos off that! although it’s far too beautiful to pick… and might make you very poorly!
October 31, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Mopsa
The fungi is just gobsmacking at the moment - and crowds and clumps of them all trying to outdo each other. No idea what that is, but it looks fabulously riotous.
October 31, 2007 at 10:06 pm
paula
A bit wild and rebellious isn’t it treehousejukebox! Pls call by again.
October 31, 2007 at 10:08 pm
paula
It could make you fly too Jane. Maybe its been ingesting itself, hence its exuberance!
October 31, 2007 at 10:13 pm
paula
Not this side of the hill, mopsa, a dearth this year after flagrant abundance last, well, that is apart from our friend up there!
November 1, 2007 at 10:40 am
mary
Paula I think it might be a variety of honey fungus (armillaria sp.) This is a photo of something similar. They are quite difficult to identify.
http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Armillaria_mellea.html
November 2, 2007 at 9:07 am
paula
Mary, thank you so much - I do believe you’re perfectly right. Looked at your link and again at our books and yes - I think all the aspects of it are quite similar. Thank you.
September 23, 2008 at 11:14 pm
John S. Komosa
….. in reference to “bizarre fungi”….
yes I know the mushrooms - recognized them right away and easily - very popular and populous around eastern part of USA (and Europe) …..
they are “honey mushrooms” (armillaria mellea) the white “stuff” are their spores…. they are in their mature stage….another day or two and they would be past their prime and rotting.
you will find a stump under them - they are parasitic on dead or dying trees - prefer oaks.
p.s. picked 3 baskets on last Sunday in local forest preserves - also 3 Hen-of-the-woods (Grifola frondosa) please note that if you are going to pick and eat them, it’s best to boil them first and discard the water…then prepare them, for some people develop some stomach discomfort.
p.s. I enjoyed reading your entries and your pictures…I ENVY your farm and your life style!! :-((
September 24, 2008 at 10:01 pm
paula
John - thank you for taking the time to comment - so interesting too.
Were you referring to honey fungus when you mentioned the boiling first? I think we’ve had too much rain recently - all fungus has given up the ghost, though maybe this dryer spell will bring them on again. I’m hoping for a wonderful boletus year!
Glad you enjoy the blog – though this summer I’d willingly have given you my life!