Was it a Frost? And Mushrooms

From late Saturday (Oct. 6th) night to Tuesday (Oct. 9th) morning there have been area-wide freeze and frost warnings; we were destined to get hit with it--so the weather folks said. On Sunday night/Monday morning we MIGHT have gotten a frost. There are three okra plants, in a frost prone spot, that have a few wimpy leaf tips but the tomatillos right next to them are fine. The two okra plants in another spot have no damage, even the eggplant has no damage and if anything is as cold intolerant as the okra, I would think it would be eggplant. What it amounts to is about seven or eight leaves of okra got a little edge damage, it didn't even fully kill the leaf. So, does it qualify as first frost? I am debating with myself over it as I am trying to keep track of things like that in a garden diary. I wish I wouldn't have pulled those green tomatoes.

It is time, here at least, for fall mushrooms. There are lots of different fall mushrooms to hunt; unlike in the spring when it amounts to hunting Morels. Coral, or antler, mushrooms are quite popular around here but there are others that are choice that grow here and if one can identify them, one is in for a delightful treat. Ron and Morg each found a mushroom called Lion's Mane. Lion's Mane is a big mushroom and quite tasty; I have never seen it for sale. We had those and some Coral mushrooms a few days ago. I did some hunting on Sunday and found some small Puffballs and some more Coral; Ron found a good sized Puffball yesterday checking on the cows. (I believe I saw Puffballs for sale in California, at a market, once.) And I went out again yesterday to a different spot and besides more Coral mushrooms, I found some Blewits. I have found a few Blewits before, about seven or so years ago, and these are choice mushrooms. When you can find them for sale, they are pricey. We had a wild mushroom pasta dish this evening and --oh my, was it GOOD--and there are leftovers! I have dried Puffballs before and it turns out well. I would like to find more to do it again. I don't know if Blewits dry well but if I can find more I would try at least one for future reference. I haven't seen any Oyster mushrooms so far this year--another choice mushroom, but I am hoping.