Its Bright! Its Yellow!

   I guess I am one of the very few people in this old world who finds all things of nature interesting.  Since most of my days are spent outside, it seems that I see my share of just about everything.  So, it is only natural for me to "study up" (using Granddad's term) on new findings.  I might as well learn.  Sitting inside is not for me nor is repeating the same activities.  Learning, on the other hand, is!  Learning about all things of nature is even more.

  With the copious rainfall that has occurred in the past few months, the hillside is in a constant state of "wet".  That moistness combined with the warmth of spring causes some pretty amazing growths in the yard.  This morning's hike found me taking photographs of slime mold.  Yeah, I was on my knees photographing that stuff that most people say "Yuck!" over.  I am ok having the stuff around only because it causes no problems.  It is not toxic, it is not harming the trees or plants, it is only around for a few weeks, at best.

  This particular slime mold has the lovely, catchy name of "Dog Vomit" Slime Mold.  Indeed, it does resemble that more on the second day than the first.  It was my thought that the fresh stuff looks a whole lot more like a yellow, kitchen sponge or even some grated cheese than dog puke.  In fact, it is almost pretty!  Granted, by the end of the day, the stuff turns sort of "bile" brown and chunky.  

  Folks, embrace what Mother Nature provides even if it is a slime mold.  Time is too short to be so "cotton-pickin' nitpicky"...to use another of Granddad's phrases.  Yep, this is the same man who got me started delving into all things natural.  I sure miss our times discussing whatever happened our way even if it was Dog Vomit Slime Mold.  Smart man.

"Thar's Gold in Them Thar Hills!"

After the long ride from Georgia last night, I just had to get outside and do a bit of hiking.  I had been sitting far to long and needed to stretch my legs!  This morning, I did just that and it felt so good to breathe in the smells of the home place and to feel the breeze off the Bay.  I love being home on the Bayou!  I hiked down to the pier then wandered back up the hillside.  There, I noticed something on the ground.  The bright yellow color caused me to fear that one of the little American Goldfinches of the area had met its demise.  Rushing over to the spot, I realized that this was no bird (thank goodness for that!).  This was slime mold and not just any slime mold.."Dog Vomit Slime Mold" to be exact.  What a nasty name to slap on something!  Yep..that is the common name of the slime mold Fuligo Septica.  At least the common name is able to be pronounced!

The slime mold was the brightest of bright yellows and actually quite pretty (pretty as far as a slime mold can be pretty).  These usually grow in mulched areas but this one had obviously gone a bit astray as it was out in the middle of the yard.  At the precise moment that I attempted a photograph, Ms. Es came barreling around the corner and almost smashed my pretty mold!  This started me thinking about dogs and Dog Vomit Slime Mold.   The lump of stuff before me really did not look like any icky stuff that ever came from Ms. Ez.  I mean, come on...THAT STUFF never looked this pleasant!  Why stick a repulsive name on something?

Dog Vomit Slime Mold can appear seemingly in an instant and disappear just as quickly.  Usually popping up during the rainy season in heavily mulched areas, the mold really does not do a lot of harm to anything..flora nor fauna.  It is just there to aggravate most gardeners that take a bit too much pride in their ability to keep the perfect garden.  Me?  I find it interesting and don't have a problem with it growing where it may.  If it ever bothers me so much that I wish it to be gone..I will take a shovel to it!  Sometimes it is all in how we look at things.  I found the slime mold interesting and with lovely color.  Others find it repulsive.  With my attitude, gardening is a lot easier! So, unless this Fuligo Septica decides to grow to cover the Little Bayou House, it can stay in the yard.  No problem whatsoever!