I haven't posted for a while (been busy sorry)I was out Today Monday May 23 2005.
They said we were crazy for going out so early but we got about 30 decent sized black morels from 2 to 3 inches in height.Three or four yellow morels as well.
Habitat.
Bottom third of Manitoba on either side of a cow pasture that was partially flooded,swarming with frogs and cow plops,growing under and around groups of SPRUCE pine trees that grew on the outskirts of a poplar grove.
Just in open areas that could get sunshine,slightly elevated and not flooded.We didn't have to go far into bush...all morels were close to the open field near the Spruce trees.
Plant hints.
The dandie lions have been up and in bloom for just over a week,The bleeding hearts are just in bloom,the Lilacs are in partial bloom,My ornamental crab apple trees are in full bloom,the Crocus are already up a week,Mosquitoes are around but not overwhelming just yet,The grass is low and still easy to see thru and the ferns are getting about a foot tall but not spread wide yet.The grouse were making thier mating sounds (thumping thier wings)
Not all these plants are where the Morels were but watching them near where I live is a good indicator of when to start looking.
Many thanks to everyone who has helped me find my first wild Morels,many thanks to my Mom for finding people who knew where to look and were willing to share thier knowledge.
They really are better than the dried ones I have bought and they were almost totally bug free except for a couple that were waterlogged.
I will be out again in a week,it has been cool and wet but we still had a decent find!
"It's who you know and where you go..." :idea:
Peterthinks' Mom