mycology lesson

We have some interesting mushrooms growing in the yard that Erich suspects are some edible form of ink caps (Coprinus comatus, "Shaggy mane inky cap"). Elena is participating in the identification with Papa. They went out and got a couple fresh mushrooms. They're making a spore-print and are drawing the mushroom, all in the effort of accurately identifying it so as to determine whether it is safe to eat. I'm not entirely sure what Elena will pick up from this exercise, but it sure seems educational. Though part of our teaching philosophy is that just about everything she does is "educational." Still, the mushroom identification is a fun lesson.