R-rated Fungi

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So it's finally sunny here today, and while I was out in the yard with Jack just now, I see what looks like carrots lying in the dirt/mulch under my viburnum hedge. But when I looked closer.... !!!!!
My daughter is out of town with my camera, but I was able to find photos and an article about this extremely strange (and kind of funny, in a nasty way) fungi on line. Get ready to laugh and/or be disgusted. Warning: R-rated!
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/mutinus_elegans.html

[Ann Kendig]

I just did a search, it's not artillery fungus. It's called slime mold. Another common name for it is called "dog vomit". If you bump it or when you pick it up with a shovel it sprays the spores. Scroll down to bottom of the page to see the picture of it.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/d/d/ddd2/images/penn%20state%20...

[F, Calla & Luca]

These things are getting more and more disgusting. My mulching days, at least with wood chips, may be over. Luckily My mulch just seems to grow plants. I know it's strange but I take random pictures when I'm out in the yard with the camera for future discussions that occur to me.

[Ann Kendig]

I agree!!! Here's a silly question....what else can you mulch with to keep weeds down and moisture in???

[F, Calla & Luca]

The "mother of mulch", Ruth Stout advocated salt hay but it's hard to find and expensive. I have used ordinary hay. My favorite thing is to get ground covers going since they do many of the same functions but also hide dead foliage and leaves. Plus they renew themselves. I like pachysandra best because it's not invasive like ivy, it's evergreen, not too high, etc. I make cuttings and root them in water in big coffee cans and have started whole new areas this way. Also, it will let the perennials grow right through. Here's a new area I started a couple of years ago with a couple of small weigela in the midst of it. The weigela is really too small for the pachysandra and I may move them to a better spot.

[Ann Kendig]

Thanks for the info F. I have never heard of using salt hay or regular hay for mulch.
The last house I lived in had soooooo much ivy! I was pulling it down out of trees, off the house etc. I love the look of it but way to invasive for me. Your pictures of your garden look so beautiful. Your garden reminds me of my friend Shirley's garden. She is always having tea parties and to attend you must dress up in proper tea party attire!
I'll bet if the two of you met up both would have a wonderful time!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks. Don't know about the tea parties though, a little formal for me: ) BTW, the hay is not attractive and is probably best for vegetable gardens or similar things.

[Ann Kendig]

We are hoping to move in the not so distant future. Hopefully, we won't have
so much landscaping to take care of and I won't have to worry about mulch and fungi!!!!

[Kathy Spyker]

We have gotten these too over the years, and I tell my grand-daughter they look like witches fingers. I will be looking at them differently from now on..lol

[Linda and "Toby"]

That's a hoot! How strange/hilarious! The universe has a sense of humor after all.