Witches’ Butter

Soapy golden nugget

Magicked up during recent rain

Fallen from the wounded oak

Lying in the lane

Wondrous shiny gift

Is anybody watching?

Dare I pick it up?

Take it to the kitchen

Slice it into soup?

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n.b. Tremella Mesenterica is edible. A fungus that feeds on other fungi that are working on dying limbs of deciduous trees. It takes on its burnished, rubbery appearance when it swells in periods of regular rain. Yes, widely found in The British Isles.

This fungi has a range of medicinal properties attributed to it. Modern technological wizardry means you can buy it online and have it delivered in a jar to your home without the bother of seeking it out on injured trees, or the joy of discovering it for yourself when out walking.

This post is not intended to be an endorsement of any particular brand of witches’ butter from any specific coven.

When picking up fungi found on a walk do check carefully that you know what it is before handling, or indeed eating it. If you get it wrong it may take more than witchcraft to revive you – if revival is at all possible.

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CLP 11/12/2019