Daily Dose Blogger Bios
A Big Nasty in My Garden
The other day I walked outside to enjoy my morning coffee, and was immediately assailed by a really disgusting smell. I looked to see if another stinky flower had blossomed from my Stapelia grandiflora (see Oct 28 posting), but that wasn't it. Then I noticed Dexter and Sadie fixated on something in the gravel - obviously the origin of the stink. I shooed them away and got my first glimpse of the nastiest thing my garden has ever produced, both smell-wise and looks-wise.
YUK! I'm used to mushrooms sprouting here and there, since before I
knew better I roto-tilled mushroom compost into my soil and mulched
with shredded bark (this makes my soil too rich for the Mediterraneans
and succulents I love to plant). But never, ever have I seen what looks
like a rotting penis pop up. It smelled like fresh roadkill. Am I being
vivid enough for you?
I had to dig it up to see what it grew out of. There was no aroused garden demon at the source, just a withered nub.
After googling up a storm I found an id for it - Phallus duplicatus
- a totally appropriate botanical name. It is commonly called the
Netted Stinkhorn, because there is usually a frilly tulle-like skirt
that sits right under the cap. There is no skirt on mine because I
suspect Sadie ate it.
Gardens are all about sex, in a way - the birds and the bees, you know
- but who would have thought nature would be so ... so overt! And so
icky about the whole thing!
i had to chuckle at your smelly, sexually suggestive 'shroom, there. only because i think i may have the female equivalent! where did you look to find out what the name of yours was?
Hi merry! Can you believe this thing? I found the identification on www.americanmushroom.com - check it out. It has the wierdest mushrooms of such crazy shapes - I can't imagine what the female version of my netted stinkhorn might be, but I am eager to see it! Tell me what you think it might be after you compare it with the photos on the site. I am now completely fascinated by'shrooms
Do these just grow randomly or are there certain causes to their appearance? I hope your dog was ok eating the "skirt;" what an obvious innuendo! You mentioned the type of mulch you planted as not the best for the succulents and Mediterraneans, what is a good mulch for such? I have these as well and am curoius. Love you blog!
Oh my god, that's hysterical. And disgusting!!!!
Sadie is fine, jeangenet, thank you for inquiring - she has an iron tummy, that one! As for these disgusting fungi ... they seem to pop up w/o rhyme or reason. I can't imagine what, other than the remains of mushroom compost makes this happen. This area, although mulched with gravel now, used to be my vegetable beds, so the soil here is actually the richest in my garden. And to answer your question about mulching - gravel is by far the best mulch for succulents and Mediterraneans. These plants thrive on lean soil and good drainage, so using high nitrogen compost or bark chips that will decompose or rich leaf mold - it'll just make these plants weak and overly leafy. Gravel helps the drainage around the crown of the plants, and adds minerals to the soil as it gets crushed into the ground. You'll notice plants will self-seed more heavily in gravel. Just remember to plant high when mulching, so as not to bury them. Thanks for your greast question - keep visiting!
I've identified my fetid mushroom: the stinky squid. mystery solved!
Right on! That is a great one! I can't wait to see what other fungal situations my garden is going to come up with - maybe I'll get a stinky sqid, too. It is very exotic. Congats, Merry - good identification work.