Mushroom hunting is a tradition in this region, with the season begining at the end of September and hordes of hikers in the hills looking for these delicacies.
Know your mushrooms before you eat them, or consult a good book! If in doubt about the safety of a certain mushroom, you can also ask the local pharmacist, who has been trained to identify fungi. The pharmacist will inspect any specimens you may have collected, if possible identify them, and finally pronounce them either edible or dangereux.
The three main rules of mushroom picking are:
Mushrooms must be of a reasonable size and have had a chance to release their spores
You must cut the stipe so as not to damage the mycelia
You must carry them in a wicker basket to allow the spores to fall through the holes and aid propagation.
If you abuse these rules be prepared be chastised by any mushroom pickers you may meet!
The Courtyard
You enter the house from the small walled courtyard. Inside the walled courtyard is a small garden filled with roses, peonies, day lillies, a variety of spring and summer bulbs, and various other perennial flowers.
Moving up ten stone steps you enter a covered terrace, surrounded by a giant purple wisteria that rises up to the third story of the house.
The covered terrace has an antique mosiac floor and a small seating area with a wrought-iron and tile table and chairs.
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