Fly Amanita

The photograph was taken in Vera Rapson's back yard at 690 Halstead Avenue.
Vera Rapson passed away at the age of 94 after living in Lynn Lake for approximately 50 years, and her family sold the
house and property for $1.00 to the Town of Lynn Lake. The house has deteriorated and the back and front yards are
unused. Birch trees and over 40 years of past dog presence seem to provide the ideal environment for this mushroom.
Nowhere in Europe or in North America have I seen such a concentration of fly amanitas.

"If you are out and picking for trouble,
this mushroom will have you seeing double."

At home in the northern hemisphere, this attractive red fly amanita (amanita muscaria), English name Fly-poison Amanita,
French name Amanita tue-mouche (deadly fly amanita), German name Fliegenpilz (fly mushroom), is hallucinogenic.
It is said the mushroom was used to entice and ready Vikings for battle.  I can't imagine that you would want to see
your enemies double in body size and numbers.
The Roman emperor Claudius died of mushroom poisoning.  His step-son remarked that mushrooms are the food of gods
and that Claudius now must be divine.  In contrast, Roman Catholic popes, murdered with mushroom poison, became
less divine.  Reindeer are known to be fond of fly amanitas.

"At Christmas time as we all know,
Reindeer can fly with Santa in tow."

Squirrels and Whiskey Jacks (Grey Jays) drive the toxin off by drying the amanita in sunny spots before storing them for
winter.  Many years ago I witnessed a squirrel attack my German Shorthair Pointer.  It was a big mistake.  My dog did
not get rabies so it must have been the hallucinogenic amanita driving the little fellow to make such a heroic and
unfortunate attack.  So much said about dried fly amanitas.
G.H.