An Early Find

In a normal year I am lucky to find one or two Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) mushrooms. This year I am happy to have found these two sets easily and very early in the season. Shaggy Manes usually grow all by themselves or in pairs and seldom do you see large batches in a single area. These happened to be at the edge of my garden, the first set being where I had harvested two mushrooms last year and the second set about 30 feet away. They are most likely growing from the same mycelium mat (the essential network for the mushrooms) that is supplying the growth from below the churned soil.
Shaggy Manes are known for their delicate taste and their quick disintegration once picked and when they age. A friend of mine states that you should have the frying pan already heated before picking Shaggy Manes because if you wait too long to cook them the simply turn to mush.
Shaggy Manes are a part of the Ink Cap family of mushrooms and they are amazing to watch as they ‘melt’ during the aging process.
No worry for my beauties. They went into the crock pot quickly along with the Chanterelle mushrooms to flavor the first batch of creamy potato soup, a fall favorite around here.