Wedged In Wisteria

Day 43: Over the course of years, I have attempted to identify the crustose lichens growing on the trunk of my wisteria, but have not been able to nail them down. I rather doubt I'd have any better luck putting a name to the wisteria's newest accessory, an LBM of medium size which has sprouted in several locations about a foot and a half up from ground level. Since 'shrooms are decomposers, I'm inclined to believe that this means my wisteria isn't as healthy as it appears. Fungus generally appears on weakened wood. The wisteria has never been particularly happy with its northside location, producing only a few flower clusters over its thirty-year life span. It may be time to change up the front yard landscape.

The Joe Log

Day 29: Whether due to drought-like conditions during the summer or the possibility that it has consumed all available nutrition from its host wood, the Joe Log has so far only produced a dusting of aqua-blue disks. My botany partner brought me this 18" long stick a couple of years ago after posting a photo which elicited the comment from me that I would "give my eyeteeth to see this in real life." The species is Chlorociboria aeruginascens, one of a small handful of turquoise-coloured fungi. I've been cultivating it carefully ever since, keeping it tucked beneath ferns where it was most likely to stay moist year-'round. However, our exceptionally dry summer has taken a toll on fungal communities in general, and I suspect the Joe Log hasn't escaped without feeling some effect. That said, the colony has had a few slow starts before. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes off now that the weather is cooler and the rain has returned.