Leccinum aurantiacum has a large, characteristically red-capped body. In North America, it is sometimes referred to by the common name red-capped scaber stalk. This edible mushroom mainly growns in aspen woods. Leccinum aurantiacum, en français le bolet orangé ou bolet roux, est reconnaissable à son chapeau orange. Ce champignon comestible pousse principalement dans les bois de trembles.
Author Archives: avril
Gendarmes on My Letterbox – Gendarmes sur ma boîte aux lettres
When I first saw my letterbox covered with these beasties I thought they were ladybirds but of course they’re not. In French they’re called gendarmes. My dictionary gives firebug as an equivalent. Its Latin name is Pyrrhocoris apterus. Lorsque j’ai vu ces petites bestioles sur ma boîte aux lettres je pensais que c’étaient des coccinelles mais …
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Arcachon in Tours
The sign on the ground says Help us to restore the paintings in Tours Railway Station. To quote Susan Walter from Days on the Claise, “The station at Tours has a series of 18 painted ceramic panels decorating the walls since 1898. Their purpose is to beautify the station concourse and entice travellers to the …
Christmas at Tours City Hall – Noël à l'hôtel de ville de Tours
We were in Tours yesterday but the white Christmas trees seemed a little early with everyone still sitting on the café terraces! Nous étions à Tours hier mais les sapins de noël blancs semblaient là un peu tôt vu le nombre de personnes en terrasse.
Touraine primeur
Beaujolais nouveau is not the only young wine in France – Touraine primeur is also ready to drink on the 3rd Thursday of November. The Amboise wine growing school has a stall at the Tours fresh produce market.After tasting this pleasant wine, we bought three bottles. After being contacted by the local newspaper, La Nouvelle …
Waste-Free Forest – Forêt sans déchets
The owl is saying “For a clean forest take your waste with you” which is the best solution in my opinion. This is the Bois de Boulogne near Mont Près Chambord. Je trouve que le fait d’emporter ses déchets est la meilleure façon d’obtenir une forêt propre comme le bois de Boulogne à côte de Mont …
Wild Hedgehog Mushrooms – Pieds-de-mouton
Jean Michel went mushroom picking with Alain, our friend and neighbour from Les Grouets who led him straight to these wild hedgehog mushrooms. The French name pied-de-mouton means sheep’s foot but we can’t find the origin. The fine needle-like spores are bitter if not brushed off. Delicious cooked in a little olive oil and served …
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A Fountain Resurrected – Une fontaine remise en service
This 16th century fountain in Blois used to be at the town hall in Rue Foulerie which was destroyed in June 1940 during the Second World War. It was reinstalled in 2005 with the financial backing of the city of Blois the Rotary Club and the Amis du vieux Blois association. Cette fontaine du XVIè …
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Two Men at the Market – Deux vendeurs au marché
When I took this photo of my favourite biscuit maker at the market – Sablés Les Grouets – the sausage vendor opposite was jealous, so I took his photo as well! Lorsque j’ai pris cette photo de mon fabricant de gâteaux préféré au marché – Sablés Les Grouets – le vendeur de saucisson en face …
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Tinder Fungus – Amadouvier
We didn’t pick this mushroom but we were sorry we couldn’t. Called Fomes fomentarius (commonly known as the tinder fungus, false tinder fungus, hoof fungus, tinder conk, tinder polypore or ice man fungus) it grows on the side of various species of tree, which it infects through broken bark, causing rot. The species typically continues to …