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Fungal lifeforms |
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We don't purposely cultivate mushrooms and other fungi in our garden - but I'm
always intrigued to see them, and on this page will share them with you (I'm
so generous, don't you think?)
Behold the comely stinkhorn! The arborvitae in the background are my neighbor's.
He keeps his hedge well mulched, and the stinkhorn fungi love that stuff. In late
summer and early fall, they pop up, look radiant for a few days, and then deflate
to a sad mess. Perfect to keep my two little boys fascinated.
On the other end of the spectrum, not very bold but decidedly dainty, are little
silvery grey lady mushrooms. I don't even bother trying to identify them - I
have enough of a hard time with plants and bugs, for the time being. I've been
told I'd need to make a spore print and have someone in the know look at it.
Who knows, maybe when I got those other lifeforms sorted out...
These demure things were also growing in a heavily mulched garden area (albeit one
that gets a good bit of sun). For what it's worth, the experts tell me this is
a Coprinus species. I'm just glad they chose to play in our garden.
This happy gathering appeared in mid-autumn in our side garden. It's fascinating
how different areas of the garden sprout different mushrooms - I haven't found
the same type in two different places yet.
Little brown things similar to, but not the same as the ones above, growing
in our lane area. According to one helpful GardenWebber, they are probably the
ubiquitous Panaeolus foenisecii, commonly found in lawns.
These marvellous donut-like contraptions were growing right in our front
yard. Can't you just tell that mowing the lawn is my top priority?
 
Two different ones popping out of the mulch in early June. Cute as buttons.
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Barbara | Jun 19, 2005 | I have this strange substance in my garden. It happened overnight. It looks like a yellow foam, but more dense than foam. Can you tell me what this is?
Sounds like dog vomit fungus. Take a look at this page and compare. |
| Aaron | Jul 20, 2005 | Very nice pics! Try planting them in the garden next year! www.fungiperfecti.com (one of many sites that sell kits) |
| Nancy | Aug 07, 2005 | Thanks greatly for your slime mold pics and info.... ours just appeared on our mulch ofr the first time last week and I wondered if we had been invaded by aliens! Your info releives my mind...a bit....sounds like the thing to do is lift it off before it matures to spores ... if that might help. Hate to see this all summer - YUK!! |
| Pam | Nov 19, 2005 | Please bear in mind that many fungi are quite toxic--a friend almost lost her dog to one in OR, and we are still thanking Whatever that the kid was not home, since he'll eat anything the dog does.
Just a reminder...your pictures are awesome! :)
Thanks for the reminder, Pam |
| Ken | Jun 15, 2007 | I googled "yellow foam in the garden" and your website showed up. The dog vomit fungus was exactly what I was trying to figure out.
THANK YOU!
|
| Chloe | Jul 10, 2007 | found the exact same in my garden near miscanthus and magnolia - both mulched. good information. i was fearing i was going to need another trip to home depot for more new chemicals. thanks for the info. |
| Donna | Oct 06, 2007 | I have been looking for about a week to find out what is in my garden. Thanks to your site, I found out it is "Stinkhorn" fungus. Thanks for putting my mind at ease! Initially, I thought it was snakes! |
| Sally | Jan 02, 2008 | Not a doctor, but raised by a doctor. Beautiful pictures of so many fungi, but so many fungi are poison to the human liver. Please continue to tell your fans to use gloves and wash very well if you touch fungi or mushrooms. The poison can be very toxic to children and acts quickly. Children should be warned and taught to "look but do not touch". |
| Carol | Mar 24, 2008 | I live in the country near Lodi, Ca. This yellow foam is in my yard were there is only black plastic covered with rock. I used a rock to move it, it then turns red where touched. I had it in the same area last year. Question is, could it be toxic????
Thank You.
Carol
I don't believe so, but don't take my word for it. This page says it's relatively harmless, though. |
| Affie Duggan | Apr 05, 2008 | I have a strange looking fungus growing under my box wood scrub that looks like a freshly peel orange gather with white mushrooms and the mushrooms has orange subatance in the middle, can you tell me what this is. |
| Cynthia | Apr 17, 2008 | Thanks for the wonderful pics. I was so afraid that it was some snake or reptile nesting in the mulch. |
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Last modified:
October 26, 2006
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