I was wandering through my garden camera in hand yesterday and came across something unexpected.
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| This stump came with the garden |
Do you see it? Take a closer look at the base of the stump.
The growths are clearly fungus of some sort associated with the tree stump's decay, which is well advanced. I looked online for clues to its identification, not even sure than both growths were the same variety of fungus. My best guess is that the first growth, and possibly both, are what's known as chicken of the woods fungus, or Laetiporus. There are at least 18 known species and these fungal growths are still developing so my identification isn't definitive. It isn't showing the shelf-like structure characteristic of these fungi but then it's only just appeared. The fungus is commonly found on decaying hardwood trees and it's said to taste a lot like chicken. Chicken of the woods is reportedly sold to chefs and restaurants for $12-25 per pound. Recipes using it are available online. (You can find one here.) I did not taste it and have no intention of doing so. There are warnings online about eating any such mushrooms found growing on conifers, eucalyptus and cedar trees due to toxins they absorb and I think there's a good chance this stump, which was already decaying when we moved in nearly ten years ago, was that of a eucalyptus tree.
Chicken of the woods isn't nearly as attractive as turkey-tail mushrooms but at least it's not as ugly as the dog vomit slime mold I showed on a few weeks ago. However, even dog vomit slime mold is far more more attractive than the behavior displayed by the current occupant of our White House last night. Even if you can forgive the uncaring and irresponsible behavior he's displayed in handling the US response to the pandemic, forget that his administration is seeking to dismantle a health care system during that pandemic without any alternative proposal, ignore his manipulation of the country's tax code, dismiss his supporters' insistence on pushing through a Supreme Court candidate through the nomination process in contravention of the rules the Senate accepted in 2016, turn a deaf ear to his statements about those who serve in the military, and disregard his refusal to accept the country's unbroken respect for the peaceful transition of power, can anyone really excuse the disgraceful behavior he displayed last night, which included among other things, support for white supremacy? I've never been so depressed and sickened by an American politician in my life - and make no mistake, despite his assertion that he's not a politician, that's the role he's playing now inside his delusion that he's starring in a reality TV show.
For more Wednesday Vignettes, visit Anna at Flutter & Hum.
All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Agree the dog vomit slime mold is no match for the unhinged, abusive, narcissistic rantings of the man who would be king. A depressing sight. We all need to make sure he will get some much-needed rest very soon.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Maybe he'll find a dictatorship somewhere more to his liking in retirement but, given his ungoverned behavior, I imagine such a place might soon either deport him or put him in front of a firing squad.
DeleteMaybe he will be able to rest in prison? I am embarrassed for our country. There are no words.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine recently says that, in addition to his unbridled ego, he's probably hanging on in desperation to delay going to jail in connection with what's likely to bubble up when he no longer has minions to tamp down the fires.
DeleteI agree with Libby, mortified and embarrassed. I sincerely hope other countries don't think that most of the US agrees with this madman. Somebody get the hook!
ReplyDeleteIf only we had a hook! If there is another debate, I hope the moderator has control of his microphone.
DeleteWow, your description is the most on-point that I've seen. I couldn't agree more. It's somewhat depressing, but also scary and disgusting. Good idea to compare it all to dog vomit slime mold. Hang in there! (Oh, and I've had chicken of the woods in my garden, too. Fascinating stuff.)
ReplyDeleteIt is scary, Beth. I can't help worrying that this is how authoritarianism takes hold.
DeleteAbout last night's sickening display of a coward's fear bubbling over, I found something on Twitter this morning that made me laugh out loud:
ReplyDelete"If you weren't able to view last night's debate in its entirety, just throw a metal spoon into a garbage disposal and you'll be more or less caught up."
Summed it up perfectly, I thought. (And I DID sit through it.)
that sounds on point to me, Anna! I wonder if we can sue the federal government for the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
DeleteChicken of the woods has a different look here in SW IN. Maybe yours isn't fully developed. An interesting find in tumultuous times.
ReplyDeleteChicken of the woods was the closest I could come when viewing samples of fungi associated with decaying tree trunks, Lisa, but it's entirely possible this isn't it. I'm wondering if the current heatwave will spur its growth or cause it to shrivel up and disappear.
DeleteA friend and I were discussing the fracas - how can anyone call it a debate? I said next time I hoped the moderator had a mic cutoff switch and used it liberally. Friend said, "Yes, and if that doesn't work, a taser." Sometimes you just have to laugh or you explode.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great photos. I find all fungi really fascinating and I've never seen chicken of the woods.
There's a lot of talk of cutting off the mic on the news today but it's not clear it's going to happen. As I heard the Dems received over $30M in the 24-hour period following the "event," perhaps they should just let #45 do his thing...Or, maybe they should charge participants a substantial fine whenever they breach debate rules with the fine going into the coffers of the other party!
DeleteGlad you're not experimenting with recipes!
ReplyDeleteThis paragraph from the NYT really hit the nail on the head for me: "The debate was excruciating to watch for anyone who loves this country, because of the mirror it held up to the United States in 2020: a nation unmoored from whatever was left of its civil political traditions, awash in conspiratorial disinformation, incapable of agreeing on what is true and what are lies, paralyzed by the horror of a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands and beholden to a political system that doesn’t reflect the majority of the country."
It's getting harder and harder to get up in the morning and face the demise of a once promising democracy at the hands of an idiot, his minions and apologists. I read one summary this morning that contended that #45's goal was to divert attention from the tax issue and the ever-growing pandemic death count, which is a depressing conclusion yet diversion does seem to be #45's main tool - he obviously believes his followers are stupid and unable to follow anything more than the latest 30-second clip.
DeleteDog vomit slime mold has purpose.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Number 45's purpose is to divide the country to get himself re-elected, despite the fact he has no constructive plans to deal with any of the issues that face us.
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