Autumn Equinox - Photos and writings

Young Fly Agaric with the leaves and woodlandbehind

Autumn Equinox

The Autumn Equinox means many things to many people, and to some it will pass without meaning anything at all! I like to think it will bring balance, a sense of sharing, giving and gratitude and a healthy harvest to everyone who celebrates Mabon. Or not.

I’ve always loved autumn! In particular the smell of fallen leaves, fruits and berries and the sense of gathering a harvest to see you through the winter. I’ve always been conscious of a kind of magic at this time of year and believe it’s no coincidence that I first met Malcolm on a late autumn walk…

Mushrooms and mud

And a chill in the air,

Birdsong and brambles,

And love, if you dare…

This romantic folly is firmly quashed by supermarkets who offer us a never-ending supply of affordable fruit ‘n’ veg. All year round. And in every season. Tasty or not.

However, consumerist cynicism aside, there is still a lot to be found on an autumn walk in the woods!

A few recent photos to indulge in my love of this season. Not so far from home:

Hogweed Seedheads and Hemlock Water-Dropwort.

The former, an edible plant, the latter, deadly.

Since our first workshop with the fantastic forager Mark Williams of Galloway Wild Foods, we have been more aware of the uses of common hogweed seeds. His hogweed cake is legendary! They have a growing citrus, then ‘astringent’ taste when eaten raw – but you definitely have to know the difference between hogweed and hemlock water-dropwort. They grow alongside eachother here, in the ditches, hedgerows and roadside verges.

The tuberous roots of the hemlock water-dropwort are known as ‘deadman’s fingers’. They look a little like parsnips, but have been used historically in executions, where the effects of the toxins cause the facial muscles to contract into a hideous ‘sardonic grin‘. Apparently there are a number of dog’s deaths every year in Britain following consumption of hemlock water-dropwort root.

The whole plant is toxic.

I have made a number of copper etching plates loosly based on hogweed seedheads. [Here’s one – more coming soon!]

Faeries and Fungi

Other well-known autumnal poisonous plants are fungi, in particular fly agaric [Amanita muscaria]. The iconic red mushroom with white ‘spots’ had its uses in times-gone-by as an insecticide, killing flies. Easily identified, this mushroom contains hallucinogenic toxins, which may explain its connection to the faeries and fairy-tales…

There are also suggestions of its historic use in religious and shamanic connections to other worlds and gods. I’ve read about people in the past drinking the urine of a shamen who has ingested it, or eating the meat of deer who appear to be ‘inebriated’ after eating it! I have also heard of links with the mushroom and Santa Claus. If you think of the colours and magical aura of both, it’s maybe not so far fetched…

Prepared properly, fly agaric are in fact edible, but I’m happy to just admire them!

The white spots are actually the remains of the universal veil – the white casing of some newly ‘hatched’ mushrooms – which splits open as they grow. They can get washed off with raindrops (or faery tears?!)

Tattie Harvest

On a more edible note, I love autumn for my magic apples (also coming soon!) and tatties! Isn’t it ‘funny’ that we all know and easily accept that you have to cook potatoes in order to eat them safely…

I first planted potatoes in a bucket with Ronan when he was wee. The joy of finding, harvesting and eating them, even the tiny tiddlers, doesn’t wear off!

A couple of buckets (pots) worth here. A few more still to go!

A Few Photos

This honeysuckle root caught my (good) eye. It reached up into the canopy of its host.

I loved the contrast of these leaves against the dark, wet trunk.

Another autumnal contrast of colour, textures, and stages of life. I love the natural cycles of a wood, words can’t do it justice.

A few fruits of the season. I’ve made bramble and apple crumbles, crab apple and (donated) marrow jam(ish), which Malcolm more successfully dehydrated into a sweetie fruit leather, stewed apples from a kind friend and there’s still lots to eat! We have a recipe for haw-ketchup, not for me though!

I mentioned my magic apples. Here’s one I left for the wildlife!

I love the shape of oak leaves. One to draw…

Puffballs looking comfy!

Fresh Shaggy Inkcap (which decays from the bottom of the cap up and drips black ink when damaged). It’s edible before going black, but I’ve not tried it – going by the ‘take one, leave three’ rule, there weren’t enough in this location to do anything other than look!