Wild Mushrooms Workshop
Instructor Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock, shown at left, and his wife Ellen led a fascinating workshop on Saturday. Whitey taught everyone some basics of identification, recommended field guides, and also taught how to recognize a few edibles. All the material that the group is sorting on the table (see center image below) was gathered in just a little over an hour, mostly along the lower stretches of Laurel Branch Trail. The three mushrooms pictured above the center group picture are (left-to-right) coral like mushrooms, Jack-o-lantern mushrooms, and a mushroom used to dye pale lavender. The three images below are Angel-of-Death Amanita mushroom, Old-Man-of-Woods mushrooms (edible), and possibly Boletes mushrooms.

Linda commented about the bountiful assortment of mushrooms that were found during the workshop. In addition to those shown in the images above, a couple of others were found that were both edible, the Hen-of-the-Wood mushrooms and the Oyster mushroom. Benita wrote that she and Tom enjoyed their oyster mushrooms in a rice casserole Saturday night and that they dried their share of "Old Man of the Woods" to use in a meaty stew this winter (recipe suggestions from Ellen). Benita concluded by saying, "A highlight of the walk was the huge display of jack-o-lantern mushrooms that Vi and Eric had discovered before the workshop. (Some folks can see this fungus glowing in total darkness.) This is a fun workshop for beginners and folks who already know something about mushroom collecting, so don't miss it next year." By the way, thanks to Vi for sending all the great images from this workshop!

Note from the Steve and Annie Bell
The following note was received from the Steve and Annie... sent to all those who were involved in last week's benefit:
A week has come and gone since you gathered on our behalf. We are so honored and moved by this demonstration of your caring. We had hoped that you would have a good time, and we understand that you did. How thoughtful of you to send photos and the CD, since we were unable to be there. Thank each and every one of you who participated in any way. We love each of you and look forward to being with you again. God Bless You Every One! ~ Steve and Annie Bell


Hike to Fentress County

(left) View of Rugby Swimming Hole from Fentress County; (right) path across

During her usual Saturday hike to Meeting of the Waters, Carrie diverged a bit from her usual path and hiked all the way to the next county! Actually, as the river was so low, hiking over to Fentress County side of the Clear Fork River was extremely easy... a one minute hike. Just a bit upstream from the Gents Swimming Hole, there were plenty of large, dry rocks that allowed for this easy walk across the river, giving a whole new perspective to that wonderful area.

Birthdays
September 30 - Jodel Buck

This week in Rugby History
October 5, 1880 - Historic Rugby Officially Opens
October 5, 1882 - Hughes Library Opens

Calendar of Events
October 3-5 – White Oak Basketry Workshop –“From Tree to Basket”. Instructors Beth Hester and Scott Gilbert. 9:00am to 4:00 pm. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842

October 3 – Lonesome County Line performance at Christ Church Episcopal 7:30 pm EDT

October 4 – Michaelmas Festival at Christ Church Episcopal - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm EDT. English Cream Tea seatings at noon, 1.30 pm and 3:00 pm - $10 per person – reservations required for tea – call 423-628-6250 or 423-628-1282.

October 4 – Community Potluck – 6:00 pm EDT (Please note the earlier than usual time)

October 4 – Janet Courtney from Rugby England “Victorian England” 7:30 pm EDT at Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Part of the Christ Church Michaelmas Festival

November 1 - English Willow Basketry - 10 am-5pm - Instructor: Veronica Ludlow - $60 per person. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842

November 2 - English Watrcolor - 1 pm-5pm - Instructor: Veronica Ludlow - $40 per person. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-7842

Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House

Dulcimer Class – Tuesdays, 2:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House

Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House

Nature Notes by Linda Konig
Just as farmers and gardeners harvest in the late summer and fall, so animals also harvest by storing nuts and fattening themselves up for the lean cold months ahead. Fortunately for them, the wild nut and fruit harvests are plentiful this year.

We humans can enjoy some of the wild harvest, too. The more familiar wild nuts around Rugby are black walnuts and hickory nuts. Less familiar are the hazelnuts (they can be cultivated), beechnuts and chinquapins (chinky-pins). There are several chinky-pin trees in Beacon Hill near the main drive around the main BH section, and these small trees are easy to recognize by their spiny burs.

This year I was determined to taste one so I've been keeping a watch on the burs. I was out of town a week and by the time I got back, I could only find one bur left. Squirrels has beaten me to them. The one bur I found, however, was open and a beautiful round glossy purple-brown nut hung from it. It was the size of a cultivated blueberry. Ther merest touch of my fingers let it fall into my hand. Native Americans and pioneers prized these, so I broke it open and ate it. They're good, slightly sweet, very smilar in looks and taste to chestnuts. Someday in the future, I hope to eat an American chestnut.