Thursday, July 7, 2011

My Unpleasant Yard Visitor

Before I left for work this morning, I walked around the yard with a cup of coffee. I found these two unwelcome guests hanging out in the bark chips on the north side of our lot.  Since they weren't there yesterday evening, they had to have snuck in during the night.

Upon searching the internet, I discovered this awful sight is "dog vomit slime mold."  I also learned that it's not harmful to plants, animals or humans and can't be prevented from showing up.  It grows in mulch. 

I didn't have time to dispose of it before I left for work, but during my lunch hour I immediately went to it.  I scooped it up easily with a small shovel and wrapped it up in a sheet of tin foil and disposed of it in the garbage.  

I've seen numerous types of mushrooms around the yard over the last several weeks, but this slime mold makes them look much more acceptable.

I hope I haven't ruined your day.  I just couldn't resist sharing this unusual finding of mine.  If you find something similar in your bark chips or mulch, at least you'll know what it is.     

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Alien life forms. Cool, Shaddy. Gully

Cheryl Peters said...

I didn't expect any positive comments regarding the slime mold. If anyone would appreciate my find, it would surely be you!!!

Mistress Maddie said...

It's like having you own petri dish in the back yard!!! Luckily I was not eating,lol, as I often do when blog reading. But maybe we can come up with a syfy movie regarding the matter.LOL

Natasha said...

I DO appreciate your find - I love it when the name of something tells it EXACTLY as it is.

But I'm glad that here in the south we use pine straw as mulch instead of wood chips.

Cheryl Peters said...

MADDIE: I love your idea!! Yesterday, I found another type of mold although I didn't research it. It was much less obnoxious than my previous find and was the color of yellow mustard. It didn't have a weird shape; it was just a smear on the bark chips.

NATASHA: The name sure fit the look!! I'm almost afraid to check the bark chip areas for fear of what I'll find lurking!!

Rob said...

Aaaaand ick! :P

Cheryl Peters said...

ROB: Ick is right!!

Walk said...

Who else would find "dog vomit slime mold" but Shaddy. You my dear friend, educate me of these finer things in life that I would normally overlook.

Cheryl Peters said...

WALK: It's my pleasure! I leave no stone unturned. Uh oh! That phrase is frightening. I wonder what strange creatures I'd find if I indeed peered under the stones in our yard!!??