Stars and Planets

Last month, I found some weird looking things in the hotbed.  These were the empty spore sacs of a fungi called Earth Stars.  Actually, in the scientific world they are known as Gasteromycetes..a large word that not a lot of folks will recognize nor be able to pronounce.  It is far easier to just call them puff balls and be done with it as this is a name with which folks can relate.  What makes the Earth Stars differ from most puff balls is that they can move!  This movement is related to the weather and spore dispersal.  There is an outer shell that splits open to reveal the inner puff ball sac.  Usually this outer shell opens when the weather is damp.  Raindrops pelt the sac and "poof" out the spores so the fungi can reproduce.  During dry weather, the star-shaped shell will fold up around the sac to protect it.

While I know all this happens, I have never seen it in action until this week.  Mark and I were out after a torrential downpour late one afternoon.  It was still drizzling a bit but not enough to keep us from our hike.  Just as we were nearing the board path to the pier, a wee bit of movement caught my eye.  At first, I though some poor critter had nearly been drowned by the hard rainfall.  I stared at the spot hoping to find what of my wild friends needed a helping hand.  I could not see a thing!  Then the wiggle again.  Aha!  An Earth Star was opening!  Excited, I plopped down to my knees to watch regardless of the sogginess of the ground!  Mark thought I was a tad daft and questioned my intentions.  I explained to him just what was happening.  He probably still thought I was a bit crazy but he humored me and feigned interest.   After the rain dispersed the spores, I picked up the empty shell to show him.  He did admit that the thing was pretty interesting and that he had never noticed anything like it before. Which drives home the point!  Most of us go through life without ever noticing the amazing world of unseen miracles.  If a fungi can move to protect its spores, then what else is out there that baffles the mind?  April 22nd is Earth Day.  Why not go outside and explore a little?  See what is in your own backyard..in the park..or simply in a flower pot.  Look deep..explore the little things that usually go unnoticed.  You just might find something very interesting.  Something that might inspire you to go the extra step in helping to protect nature and our planet!