Some of Life's Grape Questions

Let me start this post by raisin the bar.
I stepped on a grape; it let out a little whine.
Okay, okay... these puns are really starting to grape on me.

Hahaha, you're such a grape group of people.

Done. Really.

A few weeks ago, I was mushroom hunting with Indulgent Husband (for pleasure only) and I came across some wild grape vines with unripe fruit. I took a few leaves home and identified them. Knowing that Muscadine grapes are native to North Carolina, I became very excited!

 A Muscadine leaf is identified by it's saw-toothed
  edge and  is unlobed, unlike other grape varieties.

Muscadine grapes are members of the "slip-skin" type of grapes. The skin 'slips' very easily from the inner pulp and large seeds. Muscadines range in color from bronze to black (dark purple) and pleasing, both to the palate and the eye. They can be identified by their leaf shape (see below) and by their grouping of usually no more than 4 to 5 in a cluster. More often than not, I found them in pairs or stand-alones.

A pair of ripe Muscadines.

When you are foraging, the most important thing is not to know what's available in your area, or when it's peak season is; it's knowing the dangerous plants and poisonous look-alikes. IF YOU AREN'T 100% SURE OF IT'S IDENTIFICATION, DO NOT EAT IT. I don't want anyone getting sick because they mistook Pokeberries (Phytolacca Americana) or Common Moonseeds (Menispermum Canadense) for grapes. Make sure to ID leaves, stems, fruit, flowers, and whatever else is available on the plant in question.

Pokeberries L, Moonseed R

I spent about two hours reaching, grunting and being attacked by shrubbery and I'm now the proud owner of  a pound and a half of wild grapes. It isn't a terribly impressive amount, but it's just the beginning of the season, after all. I tool a stroll in the surrounding areas and ended up finding a glorious Maitake (Hen of the Woods) mushroom. I deemed it inedible because it had been nibbled by bugs and was starting to be a little past it's prime.

It was a little smaller than a volleyball in diameter!

A few other sights from yesterday:

This picture doesn't begin to explain how large this tree was...

Purple mushrooms???

Whats up, hometurtle?

Later tonight I'll be making some wild grape jelly with my little haul of grapes. Since it's a time-intensive thing (juice straining, time for the jelly to set, etc), I'll be sharing my results on Thursday. I'm really craving some jelly now...

What is your favorite part about taking a walk outside?