Waiting for Stinging Nettle...

After a week spent in Northern Ontario, more precisely Timmins, I am back in Southern Ontario.




[caption id="attachment_839" align="alignnone" width="3072"]IMG_20160401_081535 Timmins - where Spring is delayed[/caption]

It is time to check for Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), but seems that white stuff followed me home.

[caption id="attachment_865" align="alignnone" width="3264"]DSCN3126[1] My front yard on April 4th[/caption]

With heavy snow warning and cold weather in forecast it was obvious that any trail visit needs to be postponed.


Finally, on 9th of April, sun showed up again although daily temperature still hovers around zero. Checking for stinging nettle showed some humble start:


DSCN3138

This is excellent stage for harvesting, young and succulent, but numbers are too low, so I will wait several more days hoping for some higher temperatures.

The weather conditions are unfavorable for morels and I am not even bothering checking yet. One of the first sac fungi to show is Sarciscypha austriaca (Scarlet Cup):

[caption id="attachment_912" align="alignnone" width="1797"]DSCN3140 Growing despite snow cover[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_913" align="alignnone" width="2481"]DSCN3144 Characteristic scarlet color of the cup interior[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_914" align="alignnone" width="1087"]DSCN3147 Stalk and outside appearance of young cup[/caption]

One thing is for sure; my dog Hazel is ready to go:

DSCN3146.JPG

 

 

 

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