April showers bring… mushrooms? April showers and warm nights make morels (muh-rells) grow and send folks to their favorite mushroom-hunting spots as morels seem to pop up overnight! A wet spring is often the key to a good mushroom year. But a string of nights when the temperature is at or above 50 degrees is the real trigger. Generally, the season lasts four to six weeks. Hot, dry weather quickly ends the season, while cool, moist weather can prolong it to mid-May. Old-timers say that “when the oak leaves are the size of a mouse’s ear then that’s the time to look for morels,” and this usually corresponds with the soil temperature. Watch for morels growing on the ground. The top or cap looks something like a sponge, with a shape like a tiny Christmas tree. The stem is thick, and when sliced, the whole mushroom is hollow. Three species are commonly found in our area, so morels will vary in color from gray to tan or yellow. They come in a variety of sizes, but most average three to…