As I learn more about mushrooms and spend more time observing them in the forest, it’s fun to find ways to incorporate them at home. In addition to annual cooking traditions, such as creamy chanterelle soup in the fall and spring king bolete tapenade, I’m starting to explore other ways to incorporate mushrooms at home (tinctures, decorations, and even soap!).
As we approach the holiday season, I’m drawn to the Amanita Muscaria, one of the most beautiful of all mushrooms. I’ve especially enjoyed learning how the Amanita Muscaria mushroom has influenced holiday traditions, including many that I grew up with like red decorations on an evergreen tree.
If you’re interested, there’s a wide range of podcasts and articles about the topic that can be easily found online – some more far-fetched than others.
This year I’m trying something new. I picked a handful of Amanita Muscaria in late October (thanks to Carmen and Audrey for helping me find them!) and dried them with the intention of adding them to the holiday wreath we’ll hang on our front door. We already make the wreath from foraged branches and lichen, so this should be the perfect addition.
I’ll post a photo once it’s completed (now included below!), but wanted to share early in case anyone else decides to grab one last Amanita of the season! In the meantime, here’s a wreath from 2021 – one that I’m quite proud of.
Update! Here’s the 2023 wreath:
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