Fungal beauty: Morel mushrooms

Scavenger hunting was never so difficult. Trying to find a morel mushroom on a ground that is covered in dead leaves and dirt is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack-- they just blend in too easily. Hunting for them is made that much harder-- and that much more exciting if you are a die-hard morel hunter like my college pal, Keith Wilson. After spending several hours last weekend searching high and low for these elusive fungi for an article I was writing for the Examiner newspaper, I now consider morel mushroom hunting an art form-- not to mention the perfect topic for this blog, which highlights the abstruse and unappreciated beauty that nature so often hides from us in plain sight.


Morels come from the Morchella genus, and are considered a prized delicacy by chefs and foodies alike (especially the French). Their pruney, sponge-like heads have a unique, meaty taste, and since they are only available seasonally, they are quite costly. They typically come out mid to late April on the East Coast and although they are found in all 50 states, morels are most prevalent in the mid-West. That said, Keith assured me Maryland has a decent crop, you just have to be stealth-like and get out earlier than the competition.


Morel hunters take their task very seriously. Keith knows this better than anyone, he's been hunting them for years and singing their culinary praises. He swears they are the best of all the mushrooms taste wise. So I asked him to take me on a hunt to show me what the hype was all about. And then cook for me, it was research after all.


Keith knows exactly where to look and I've been sworn to secrecy not to reveal any of the places we covered. The first spot was in the mid-section of a very wooded state park, and even though we were there on a mission, I still found my eyes wandering towards the pastel colored wild flowers and moss covered branches and tree trunks. Things were blooming quite rapidly as the temperatures here in the mid-Atlantic this spring have been in the high 80's for several days. All sorts of life had come out of hiding, including a family of eight deer that we saw as we walked up our first hill.


After about 10 minutes, we were both sweating, and all I could think was we better find some mushrooms for all this work. While we continued our seemingly endless search, Keith told me morels come in three colors--yellow, gray and black. The yellows and grays tend to grow close to or under elms, sycamores and tulip trees, while the black ones can be spotted in coniferous forests. All varieties are known to grow at the sites of forest fires and disturbed areas, and most morels are found in the wild...hence, the guarded secrecy of locations among hunters.


We finally found a few young ones growing near some tulip trees about 40 minutes into the search, but Keith seemed disappointed that there weren't more, so on we went to location number 2. And no, I can't tell you where again, but I will say we went through an endless amount of thorny brush to get there and I was ready to turn around at least three times. When we arrived at a slight clearing, Keith spotted another small patch, although I think he suspected the competition had beaten him to much of it, leaving a only few stragglers behind.


Maybe morels have off years like perennials. We only scored around 30 mushrooms on this hunt, which is considered a small amount by Keith's standards. By the end of the day, my head was spinning from all the walking and staring at dead leaves in hopes of finding a brownish root peaking through the earth. I now understand why morel hunters are such a rare bunch; the hunting takes time, patience and steadfast tenacity. Having a slight obsession doesn't hurt. Still, I am glad I went to see what the hunt was all about. I can honestly say I respect the hunters that embark upon this seemingly dauntless task each spring.

The Remnants of a house in the woods

Young Redbud blooms on a limb

Jack-in-the-Pulpits

Wild grapevines in the woods

Wild geranium

For more information on morel mushrooms, please visit:
http://thegreatmorel.com/

Look Up Beauty: Spring branches blossom

Kwanza Cherry Branch

When the trees of spring begin to bloom, you get the added bonus of seeing them all dressed up in perfect shades of pastels, heavily adorned with their beautiful blooming flowers. There is nothing like spring's fashion show of flowering trees and their grand entrance is always impeccably timed. After months of stark landscapes that are devoid of life, the vibrant blossoms arrive just in time for us to get out of our hibernated hide-aways and back into Nature. Thank God for Spring!

Dogwood Tree

If's a nice day like it was last Saturday, I like to go out for a walk wherever I am and spot as many varieties of trees I can find. While I recognize quite a few, there are still some that I don't know, usually the non-flowering types, so pardon me if I don't get the exact names.

Pine Tree

Once I spot an eye-catching tree that is in bloom or close to it, I like to stand under it and look up to the sky. It works best if it is clear and there is a blue sky. Clouds are especially nice too. It gives the tree a new dimension and creates the prettiest backdrop against the colorful flowers and leaves, it even works with pine trees and cones.

White cherry tree

I could sit under these trees and stare up at the sky all day. It's very calming and peaceful, peeking through the branches and watching the sky roll by.

Weeping Cherry Tree

As a child, I used to sky-gaze constantly and I find I still do-- now with a new appreciation for spring's lovely flowering trees.

Norway Maple

Many trees look completely different when blooming flowers as opposed to just leaves, like this Norway maple, for example.

Lilac Tree

It's Earth Day today and I can think of no better way to thank Mother Nature for her earthly treasures than to so sit under one of her creations. So get outside and find a tree, any tree, and look up at the sky. You'll be amazed at the view.

ALL PHOTOS BY THE FLOWER SPY

Magnolia beauty

When I think of spring flowers, visions of vibrant muscari, tulips and hyacinths popping up from a dormant garden always come to mind. When I think of springtime flowering trees, those ethereal cherry trees with their endless blossom covered branches are number one in my book as the top swoon worthy perennial. But I can be fickle and must not forget good old forsythia, a plant whose branches I can never force enough of each January to erase my winter blahs. Of course there is also that romantic, perfumy lilac, and eye catching red bud, and well.. the list goes on. It seems when the topic of spring flowering beauty comes up, I am always reminded that the list is a long one with so many varieties that deserve equal recognition.


The Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) is one of those flowering trees I just seem to take for granted. That was until I went for a long walk in my neighborhood last week and was overwhelmed by their presence.

Also known as the Tulip Tree, this magnificent neglected beauty is one of spring's largest trees that produces some of the most beautiful and enormous blooms that are both only eye-catching and insect attracting. This deciduous tree is also known for as one of spring's messiest trees; when the petals drop, the clean-up can be fierce and dangerous, especially if the ground or hard surface beneath is damp.



However messy the Saucer Magnolia can be, I prefer to highlight its positive traits, such as its intense color transformation from bud to flower. Saucer Magnolias are early bloomers that begin to show in early to mid March with fuzzy buds. And the good news is these branches can be forced to bloom early, a fact I did not know until recently. Once in bloom, the petals are rich hues of either white or pink and can grow to 10 inches. There are more than a dozen cultivated varieties of this species, and they show up in all regions of our state--from the southeastern shore, all the way up to northwestern parts of Maryland. While they aren't as common as Bradford Pears or cherry trees, they can be found in neighborhoods and cities, although are less frequently seen along highways and roadways, as they are a non-native species of magnolia. Some varieties can grow up to 25 feet.




The Saucer magnolia begins its blooming with dullish gray buds that swell up a good bit before yielding any color. Once the bloom starts to crack open, it isn't long before it converts into its famous magnolia sized flower. It's a fast growing process and if it's warm out, the fragrant flowers will attract beetles, bumblebees, flower flies and a few types of stink bug and leafhoppers.


I am fortunate to live in an old neighborhood called Catonsville (in Maryland) that planted hundreds of Saucer magnolias years ago. After researching these stately beauties, I now see them all over, and they are taller than the credited 25' most garden manuals claim. The one in our community are also quite fat, a trait I admire greatly in a plant.


Weather permitting, the blooms can last up to three weeks, but they are often cut short by March winds and April showers. Frosts can be deadly to the blooms as well. But if you are lucky to have this tree planted in your yard, it's hard not to fall in love its majestic flowers and "pink petal snow" that comes at the end of its growth cycle.


Cool Facts about the Saucer Magnolia:
- Tolerates poor soil and air pollution.
- Area wildlife uses the larger dead branches of the Saucer Magnolia for nesting sites, and the sprouts of young trees are browsed.
- 'Magnolia' was named after a 17th century French botanist named Pierre Magnol.
- x soulangiana is named after Frenchman, Etienne Soulange-Bodin, who raised the original hybrid of this plant on his plantation in France.


LOCATIONS: Catonsville, Arbutus, MD


PICTURES BY: The Flower Spy

Fighting beauty: The art of Dan Keplinger

In this blog you will find images and words about the hidden beauty that I find in life. I generally look for it in nature-- it is after all my favorite place to be. But sometimes I find that neglected beauty isn't always outside, it's inside as well... inside our minds and our spirits. I feel honored when I discover it and immediately want to share it with others.


A person who fits this description was the guest of honor at a party in a Hampden art gallery last week. He is an artist who creates emotional, artistic statements that stem from his perseverance over a crippling disability. His name is Dan Keplinger, and he is a gentle soul that never stops at anything he attempts to achieve, be it living independently, getting an education, creating art or even falling in love. Some may already know him as the star in the Oscar winning documentary "King Gimp" in 1999. Local artists know him as the man who paints using his head instead of his hands. Since I just met him and watched his documentary for the first time, all I can say is he is an inspiring man who manages to create beauty in a most difficult manner.


Dan's nick-name is "King Gimp" and it came long ago from neighborhood children who liked to watch him roll down his parents hill as fast as he could in his wheelchair. For him it's a positive term, one that means "fighting spirit". Dan has held onto that spirit since he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. His doctors thought he was a still born since he was not breathing. When he was placed aside thought to be dead, Dan revived himself. It is believed the lack of oxygen to his brain caused his disability. Knowing he revived himself leads me to believe he was destined to survive with a very great purpose. This can be found in his refusal to quit, his determination to build a normal life, and his desire to find love. He has accomplished all of these, particularly the third, when he married his long-time love, Dena Huggler, on April 1, 2009. Dan's fighting spirit won again, this time bringing happiness to a life that's been filled with too many struggles.


I attended their wedding and it was quite special as one would expect. Dan and Dena opened it to the public and had it on April Fool's Day at the historic Senator Theatre, in Baltimore. While many may think this an odd day for a wedding, their officiant explained that if a man falls for a pretty girl on this day, he is destined to always be with her and be happy.


Many guests showed up in vintage 40's and 50's attire at the request of Dena and Dan. Before the bridal procession, an old skit of the Muppet's singing "O Danny Boy" was shown as was Lenka's music video "Just Enjoy the Show". It was as untraditional as a wedding could be, and pretty darn fantastic. When the videos and music stopped, Dena appeared and walked down the very long movie aisle dressed in a black and white vintage 50's polka dot dress with a garland of paper rings around her neck. Once both bride and groom were on stage a translator was introduced for Dan, but it didn't matter, you could understand him through his motions and expressions, especially when he looked at his bride.


After the many introductions and speeches, the officiant turned to Dan and asked what his greatest accomplishment was. He responded, "She's sitting right next to me". He then turned to Dena and asked her to be his queen. King Gimp finally found his Queen.


When the colorful ceremony ended, one of Dan's paintings was auctioned off to help support the Senator that, unfortunately, is in bankruptcy.


I left towards the end of the auction, feeling like I just witnessed something really important. I thought about my good fortune, getting to meet Dan in person and shake his hand. I ruminated over the passion in his paintings, especially "Down fall", one that I fell in love with wish I had the money to purchase. I realized after everything I had witnessed, once more I had found neglected beauty in a place I didn't expect, Terrie Fleckenstein's Art Gallery. I went looking for art, but left finding much more. Meeting Dan, King Gimp, and seeing his fighting spirit in person was contagious to me-- it was a crucial reminder to never surrender, especially in matters of the heart. After all, all good kings need their queens. Congratulations Dan and Dena.

Down fall

ALL PHOTOS BY: Dino Lara, Manila, Philippines
www.dinolarablog.com

GALLERY: Fleckenstein Gallery, Hampden, MD
www.fleckensteingallery.com/index.html

DAN KEPLINGER: http://kinggimp.com/