Minishrooms

While working in the garden this morning, I discovered a large swath of tiny mushrooms.  Most were only a half-inch tall or shorter, and the mass covered an area less than foot across.  Their little caps were about a quarter-inch in size.

They were fascinating little miniatures.

Bracket Mushroom

Once upon a time, a towering Hackberry tree grew at this spot.  But after it split in half, the tree was removed and it's stump ground down below soil level.  I assume that the buried trunk, slowly rotting away, gave rise to this almost foot-wide bracket mushroom.

Flower Power: GBBD September 2010

On the fifteenth of every month, May Dream Gardens invites everyone to post pictures of the plants that are blooming in their gardens.  My shady garden blooms have not changed much from last month, but here's September's bloom list:

Established Plants

The Mexican Petunias (Ruellia tweediana 'Colobe Pink') are still producing the occasional light pink blossom.

The close-up makes it look like some huge Hibiscus flower, but it's really just the small hot pink bloom of the Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala).

Though this past winter's hard freeze killed the recently transplanted Coral Nymph Sage (Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph'), a few of  its seeds survived amongst the cracks in my stone path, sending up diminutive plants that have actually produced blossoms.

The Liriope spicata started blooming last month and most of the flowers are still there, peeking out from the foliage.

The Aztec Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis) continues to produce three-petaled flowers at the end of its bloom stalk.

The arching branches of the Rose Creek Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek') end in small clusters of little white flowers.

Sporadically, small purple blossoms top slender stalks on the Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea).

As the sunlight dims towards evening, the blossoms of the Water Poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides) also fade, seeming to lose their typical brilliant yellow color and slowly closing for the night.

In one of the sunnier patches of my garden, the West Texas Mist Flower (Conoclinium greggii) sprawls across the flower bed, its small clusters of light purple blooms appearing like small fireworks.

With its opened blossoms only lasting a day or two before dropping to the ground, its not always possible to capture the full flowers of the 'Ragin Cajun' Ruellia (Ruellia elegans 'Ragin' Cajun').  But even the incoming new blooms give a dash of color.

New Plants in the Garden

One of the un-excavated Ground Orchids (Spathoglottis plicata) is sending up a bloom stalk.  The blooms are only about the size of a quarter but do have nice color.

Basking in a rare patch of sunlight, a Firecracker Plant (Justicia spicigera) has several narrow orange flowers scattered about its stems.

Even under pretty good shade, the Salvia van houttei sporadically produces scattered clusters of purple flowers.

Potted Plants

Though better known for its variegated foliage and red/purple-black peppers, the tiny blooms of the Capsicum annuum 'Calico' are quite pretty (if you're willing to get really, really close to them).

Flower Wannabes

They may not be flowers, but the purplish berries of the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) still add to the garden's color.

And recent rains produced enthusiastic growth from a few yellowish mushrooms that forced their way out through the twisted leaves of an aloe.

Recently...

Have been somewhat amiss on keeping up with the small happenings in the garden.  So I decided to group some of the events that have occurred over the last ten days into this single posting.

About a week ago, another variety of mushrooms made a surprise appearance.  I especially liked the ribbed view from above.  As with almost all of these fungi, they disappeared back into the soil within a couple of days.

The Chickadee brood has been keeping the parents busy.  While working in the garden, I have gotten to watch the parents flying in & out, making sure the youngsters stay well fed.  But all appeared quiet today, and upon checking, it looks as if the nestlings have departed.

Me & the missus are delving into new territory by creating a small herb garden (parsley, basil, oregano & thyme).  Not sure if we have sufficient light, but I can at least move the plants around on the deck in an attempt to locate an optimum spot.

Recent rains seems to have brought out the critters - both beneficial and no so beneficial.

The Sweet Kate Spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersoniana 'Sweet Kate') has been sending its lime green shoots ever higher.  The bright coloration lasts until the summer heat sets, then slowly darkens.  No blooms yet.

But a couple of other plants are producing their first blooms of the year for my shady garden.

Jerusalem Sage

(Phlomis fruticosa)

Lenten Rose

(Helleborus orientalis)

I also finally got around to potting the Golden Tooth Aloe (Aloe perfoliata) that I got at the recent Cactus & Succulent Show.  Included in the pot is a low growing Sedum (variety unknown).

Then I decided to get experimental and created the first hanging basket of my garden using the Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense).  I was inspired to try this by a couple of  postings: Tough Decisions on Rock Rose and Hanging Succulent Gardens on Danger Garden (be sure to check them out!).  Looks a little empty now, but I have faith (for now).

Been a busy time.  It's good to get caught up with the recent happenings.

Awakening

Being relatively new to the whole gardening blog scene, this will be my first entry into the monthly Picture This photo contest sponsored by Gardening Gone Wild.  The March theme is "Awakening" and several outstanding entries can be viewed on their site.

Just a few days ago, these mushrooms made a surprise performance.  I always enjoy discovering mushrooms in the garden - they appear overnight seemingly from nowhere and then are usually only a memory within a few days.  And it all happens without my involvement.  I just have to be around for the show.