donkey_oatey's Identifications

I’ve seen @aaronjhillard ‘s and @millivedder ’s Cantharellus formosus observations and thought I’d see for myself. Chanterelles in June seemed pretty crazy! I went back to where I had found some last year, and, sure enough, found some beautiful little butter sponges! I feel bad for picking them though, they were way too tiny. I should have left them there and come back to them in a couple of days. Also, I’m pretty sure I’ve accidentally come across someone else’s secret chanterelle spot, but whatever.

Oh, and happy 200th observation!

Fairly shallow in the soil, I did look for Douglas-fir but couldn’t see any in this predominately fir forest. However, it’s quite possible I could have missed one. Good condition for the size and season. Elevation 5000’.

most likely associated with Quercus agrifolia

This truffle had been nibbled and dropped: "squirrel dropped" seems to be on a par w "dog harvested" as this specimen had a powerful aroma of white truffle that I captured in a jar with a few pieces of butter, before dehydrating for a voucher.

After speaking with some folks in Santa Barbara, I heard a story of an older fellow who used to sell truffles to restaurants in Santa Barbara. Perhaps it was these T. californicum. Previously, I have not read reports of such aromas with this species. Perhaps because they have been raked for science and not collected with a dog or better yet an (untrained) squirrel!