Plants & Bulbs

» TLD6255 - strange substance in mulch

I have a small pond w/goldfish & frogs; there is also a small creek 30 yards away with dozens of ducks. Several times lately I have found something strange in the wood mulch surrounding the pond: it has the look & consistency of 2-3 cups of vanilla pudding poured into a puddle! At first I thought a neighborhood cat or dog had gotten sick - eww, sorry, but it sort of looked like that. But it's happened half a dozen times since, and sometimes has a yellowish tinge. If I wait a day b4 washing it away w/the hose, there is a crusty/grainy layer beneath the squishy top. I see the ducks foraging in this area often so I at first suspected them, but then someone mentioned it could be some sort of fungus.
Anyone have any clues???
(I live in central Ohio if that helps, in a suburb.)

-- posted by TLD6255

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - strange substance in mulch

In response to strange substance in mulch posted by TLD6255:

Hi...This is probably a slime mold, a problem commonly associated with organic mulches. Pretty repulsive when you discover it for the first time...but actually pretty neat

You can access this link which also has a picture to verify this.

Georgene AKA Cercis

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» TLD6255 - strange substance in mulch

Wow, thank you so much! I went to that link and you're right on, that's the stuff! Ok, now that I know it's not a garden crisis, I can appreciate & just observe it. (And not worry that any neighborhood pets are sick to their stomachs...)

-- posted by TLD6255

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - strange substance in mulch

In response to strange substance in mulch posted by TLD6255:

Great to have helped

With the hot, wet, & humod weather we've been having here on the east coast, slime molds and mushrooms are flourishing!

A little replusive, to see, at first - slime molds can really be fascinating. Watch, wait and see if the one you have produces fruiting bodies.

Georgene (AKA Cercis)

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