Wednesday Vignette: "They" say it tastes like chicken

I was wandering through my garden camera in hand yesterday and came across something unexpected.

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

Wednesday Vignette: I got slimed

I abandoned my "no summer planting rule" this year.  Working in the garden is just about the only thing that's kept me sane during this pandemic.  But, as foolish as planting is when it's hot and dry as dust, I'm not going to give up anything I plant without a fight so I've been doing more watering than usual this summer, trying to give my new plants a halfway decent chance of survival.  Last month, I dug up several ungainly-looking rosemary shrubs and, unable to leave the space empty until fall, I planted Zinnias as a temporary filler (along with another Abelia 'Kaleidoscope') and I've been hand-watering the area regularly.  Zinnias can take the heat but they need regular watering, especially when they aren't deeply rooted.  Monday afternoon, I went to check on them to see if more watering was required.  And I saw this:

I immediately recoiled

After my initial shock, it only took me a minute to realize what this was.  I'd seen it once before and, once seen, it's hard to forget.  It's Fuligo septica, more commonly known as dog vomit fungus, dog vomit slime mold or scrambled egg slime.  I'd added compost and planting mix to the bed after I pulled out the rosemary shrubs and, after regular applications of water to keep the new Zinnias and Abelia hydrated, I got slimed.  (I enjoy a good Ghostbusters reference and this one seems appropriate.)

I haven't cleaned up the slime yet.  I expect the return of temperatures near or above 100F this weekend will cause it to break down but, if it doesn't, I'll scrape it up.

This reflects how I feel after the morning news most days now

I apologize if this is an unappetizing post.  I promise that my next post will be a whole lot prettier.  In the meantime, for more Wednesday Vignettes, visit Anna at Flutter & Hum.

All material © 2012-2020 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Pumpkin Deconstruction & Wednesday Vignette

With Halloween already a distant memory and Thanksgiving now passed, it was time to deconstruct the succulent-topped pumpkin I created in late October.  The pumpkin was still in good shape, although some of the succulents had lost their luster.

Pumpkin immediately before deconstruction this past weekend

Although the succulents remained firmly in place for 5 weeks, the cuttings were easily removed.

The succulents were removed, exposing the pumpkin's moss toupee

I threw away the berries I'd used but most of the succulent cuttings were in fine shape for replanting.  They found a new home in the new succulent border I created in November when a dying hedge was removed.

Many of the succulent cuttings had already developed roots.  Clockwise from the left: Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi' cuttings were added to those planted earlier; Graptosedum 'Darley Sunshine' cuttings were added above the rock; noID Rhipsalis were inserted above another rock; and miscellaneous noID succulents were used to edge the area below an Agave attenuata cutting planted earlier.

I passed the pumpkin off to the squirrels.  Have they touched it?  No.  Yet they consumed all the pumpkins I used as decorations out by the front door in short order.

My gift to the squirrels remains untouched.  Maybe the moss toupee is putting them off?

Maybe they're just tired of pumpkin - they've eaten a lot of it already.

In addition to the mid-sized pumpkin shown here, they - or possibly their raccoon friends - carried off 3 mini pumpkins, including one that had been placed in a hanging basket

I hope the pumpkin gets eaten before it starts to mold in place.  My garden isn't short of fungus this season.

This fungus is growing on the inside of a half wine barrel used as a planter.  Trametes versicolor is my best guess.

I'll close this post with another succulent, offered as my Wednesday Vignette.

This noID Gasteria produced a pup, which is held suspended above the parent plant, making me think of Simba's introduction to the pride in "The Lion King"

For more Wednesday Vignettes, visit Anna at Flutter & Hum.


All material © 2012-2016 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party