Adventures of the Boomer ‘Shroomers! (Rocky Mtn. King Bolete)

Found these beauties this morning near Webster Pass, Colorado. Yeah I'm a happy Birthday Geezer at 61.
Found these beauties this morning near Webster Pass, Colorado. Yeah I’m a happy Birthday Geezer at 61.

Ah, it’s apparently Colorado Monsoon season up here. This morning, towns along the Front Range are flooding, and Interstate 70 got partially blocked by a mudslide near Wolcott Junction.

It’s been raining all last night and all morning here in Lakewood, and Joy just spotted another leak in my gutters–oh, Joy! Rain gauge in the backyard says 2.7-inches since yesterday. The veggie gardens, trees, and grasses are loving it after all the +90°F temperatures. High today forecast in the mid-60’s–yeah, as old Colorado Boomers like us tend to wilt when temps hit 85°.

Us ‘shroomers love it too, ’cause it means in about 5 to 10 days T’s favorite big Rocky Mountain King Bolete mushrooms (aka porcini, penny bun, & Boletus edulis) will be sprouting under the pines at elevations above 7500 feet. By mid-August, Joy’s favorite the White Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare) will be hiding beneath the duff at the base of Ponderosa pines at elevations above 8000 feet.

We’re all hoping that August-2014 will be comparable to 2013 when shrooming up here was simply fabulous.

Best Regards, T and Joy

PS. So what do old Greek Boomers do while waiting for the rain to stop and shrooms to sprout? T’s making feta cheese today. One and a half gallons of fresh un-Pasteurized milk from our Cow-Share makes about 3 pounds of Feta — Kali Oreksi !

Adventures of the Boomer ‘Shroomers! (The King Bolete)

Rocky Mountain King Bolete Pictures

Joy found this big “King” (aka Boletus edulis or Porcini) last August near Nederland. Note: Kings have light tan-to-yellowish pores on the underside of the cap, as boletes have pores instead of gills under the cap. DO NOT EAT any bolete with RED pores!!

 

Found about 100' from Tent
Found about 100′ from Tent

King & Aspen Boletes

That day in August 2013 we found a few and left even more.

Regards, T & Joy