The first strawberries of the season have ripened in the Sverdlovsk region, with a resident of Aramil showcasing her initial harvest. According to a post by Alla in a mushroom picking group, the berry season has started earlier this year compared to the previous year.

Experienced foragers suggest it is still premature to actively search for strawberries, advising allowing more time for ripening. Alexandra Karamazova, administrator of the “Gifts of the Ural Forests” group, noted that while strawberries are being gathered in the Chelyabinsk region, they have not yet fully matured and are small in size, primarily ripening in sunny areas. Ripening is also expected to begin near Kamensk-Uralsky soon, but the berries there also require additional time to fully ripen.

Earlier reports indicated that saffron milk caps and milk mushrooms are expected to appear in the Sverdlovsk forests sooner than usual, typically appearing closer to autumn. These mushrooms are anticipated to grow at the beginning of summer, attributed to the current weather conditions. Mid-May saw the emergence of the first slippery jacks in the Urals, with information shared regarding suitable locations for finding them.

Prior to this, a rare Red Book fungus, the globular sarcosome, was discovered in the forest near Nizhny Tagil. The mucus within this fungus is believed to possess rejuvenating properties and is applied to the face and hands. In April, the initial mushrooms were reported to have appeared in Yekaterinburg. A Ural resident recently gathered a basket of morels and shared a photograph, with details provided on the proper methods for collecting these mushrooms. Information was shared on how to cook morels and other unusual mushrooms. Individuals are advised to learn how to properly prepare mushrooms and understand who should avoid consuming them before venturing into the forest.