Its that time of year when we're visited by angels..
The destroying angels.
It's amazing. Besides the ones that grow around here that you can eat, these are my favorite mushrooms. They have this cold beauty about them that, once you recognize what they are and learn to spot them, is entrancing. They're like ghosts; forgotten specters of an ancient age.
I wouldn't rip them out for all the tea in Britain.
They're solid white (death cap has a silvery/gray top.) The stem is ringed. And most importantly, it grows from a broken egg shaped base. I don't think touching them can hurt you enough to notice, but eating them will kill you.
What's more, it's such a slow poison, you wont notice for some time.
By then its usually too late for anyone to do anything about it, except pray.
All that being said, I love our mushrooms (and we have lots!) It's one of the things that make this place special. Had I the opportunity to buy a new place, I would very much like another north facing hill for mushrooms and other rare native plants.
-'The Digger'