Iowa may have one of its most fleeting morel seasons this year. With winter weather lingering well into late April, soil temperatures in the state have only recently been favorable to see the rare delicacies “pop.” Experts say soil at 50 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for morels to make an appearance, and almost […]
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Category: morel mushrooms
Houby Days 2017 photo gallery
CEDAR RAPIDS – It literally rained on our parade at this year’s Houby Days in Czech Village, but the annual festival offered many bright spots, as well. For those most interested in the event’s namesake mushrooms, winners were announced in the morel contest: Team TMT (Tom Slade, Morgan Driscoll and Tyson Gosnell) won both the […]
Houby Days festival to celebrate 40 year...
Back in the day, mushroom hunters would bring coolers full of morels to sell on street corners during Houby Days, an annual Czech Village celebration in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Laws in recent years have restricted those sales, but Houby Days (Houby is the Czech word for mushroom) continues its annual tribute to the beloved morel […]
No luck at mushroom hunting? Learn how t...
Rumor has it that the soil temperatures are warm enough to start finding morel mushrooms in some parts of Iowa. For mushroom lovers who can’t find morels, or anyone else with an interest in fungi, Prairiewoods is offering a workshop on growing mushrooms. Read on for details from Prairiewoods: Joyful Gardening: Grow Your Own Mushrooms […]
Do warm temperatures signal an early mor...
Iowa is inching close to the factors needed to converge to launch the morel season. Daytime temperatures in some parts of the state have been at 70 degrees, with night-time temps above 40. Moisture hasn’t been ideal, with a particularly snow-free winter, but recent rains put a dent in that, as well. Most importantly, one […]
Houby Days 2016 Photo Gallery: mushrooms...
CEDAR RAPIDS – A week’s delay in this year’s scheduled date for Houby Days translated into picture-perfect weather for the three-day festival. Carnival rides, live music, and of course, the festival’s Czech namesake – mushrooms – drew large crowds to Czech Village in Cedar Rapids. The event kicked off on Friday, May 20, with a […]
Lion Bridge features mushroom beer for H...
CEDAR RAPIDS – Lion Bridge Brewing Co., in Czech Village, is combining two things that many Iowans love: beer and mushrooms. Mushroom beer has become somewhat of a tradition for the neighborhood brewery during the annual Houby Days celebration, happening May 20-22, 2016. And this time, they’re doing it twice. Chanterelle Disaster (Mushroom Porter, 5.8%) […]
Houby Days mushroom festival begins May ...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS — This year’s Houby Days is scheduled a bit later than in years past, but given this weekend’s forecast, that might be fortunate. Hopefully by the time the annual mushroom festival begins later this month, the weather will be looking up. Houby, the Czech word for mushrooms, are central […]
March of the morel mushroom season
Early March is generally too soon to find morels in Iowa, though this weekend’s mild temperatures have stirred that longing in mushroom hunters. The season can vary, but already, mushroom hunters in Missouri are finding the sponge-like delicacies, and the soil is getting close to needed temperatures in Iowa. That perfect soil temperature can vary, […]
“Morelabration” planned for Morel Hunter
Morel hunters in central Iowa are having a Morelabration Day! An outing is planned for Morel Hunters of Iowa – a 4,000-person group – at Ledges State Park near Boone. One of the organizers notes that at least 200 people plan to attend.