Even Our Fungus has a Fungus!

  This has been the rainiest summer that we have had here on the Bayou in many years.  I cannot recall that in recent (and not so recent even) years ever seeing so much water pour from the sky.  Not that I am complaining....I like the rain.  It keeps me from having to water the garden as often and gives me the opportunity to work on artwork.  But, the rains are plentiful and with those rains (and the Deep South heat) comes....mushrooms!  Lots of mushrooms!  

  This morning, Mark and I took a hike to the pier.  It was another cloudy...soon to be rainy...sky above us.  We stayed just long enough to watch a rainstorm move slightly to the west of us before we headed back up the hill.  One thing we have learned about all of this rain, is that the board path stays slippery.  Our walks are much safer stepping in the soggy grass than on the almost slimy boards.  It is along that grass slope where mushrooms have sprouted in abundance.  Some of the most common are some type of orange, thick bodied mushrooms. Squirrels seem to love these things so at least they are good for something other than decorating the lawn.  

   When we were about halfway up the hill, I noticed that our usually dark orange mushrooms were sporting lovely white fur jackets.  Ok, so that needed to be investigated!  On closer inspection, I realized that our mushrooms were covered in a mold.  Mycelium had overtaken a whole group of mushrooms and gave them all fur caps even though I am not sure that the mushrooms were appreciative of the efforts.  Mycelium is a parasite on a good many wild mushrooms.  It starts and can completely cover a surface in a matter of hours.  The stuff causes soft rot and will soon consume the entire mushroom. Poor little fungi, they never had a chance!

  While it is probably not the nicest thing to have growing in the yard, I find it rather pretty, in a weird sort of way, and quite interesting.  We have fungus growing on our fungus!  Amazing!  Hot, rainy days do make for unusual finds on the Bayou.