Dryads Saddle Update

    Well, three days ago I checked on the progress of the apple tree Dryads Saddle and there was only a small amount of growth, which I put down to how warm and dry the weather was.


     Then this morning I decided to give them a check and to my suprise the growth was amazing. What was just a small baby saddle of around 2 to 3 inches across was now a full adult example of easily 11 to 12 inches across, to be quite honest I was stunned at how big it had become.


   Even the two tiny saddles that were growing in the hollow rotten branch on the same tree were now a good size and I'm sure will soon be popping their caps out into the open.


     As I had been checking one of the other older trees to no avail I thought it would be a good idea to have another look. To my suprise then on one of the large limbs of the tree was a perfectly healthy saddle about 6 inches across with a good thick stem which could indicate or suggest this fungi was also going to reach a good size. To say I was happy would be an understatement, I was bloody over the moon.


    Now just one big question, do I cut one to eat while they are young or do I let them mature to see how they develope? I would like to taste my first Dryads Saddle but most reports suggest they aren't the best tasting mushroom and are better dried or powered to add to stock or stews.

   All in all a productive half hour and of course if we get the rain expected later this week will this help their growth or indeed produce more in this old orchard, I wonder which?

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