Nature provides an incredibly beautiful wonder in slime molds. They feed on decaying things which is not a bad thing considering all of us gardeners who love enriched soil.
Basically, slime mold works on just these sort of things.
Decaying wood is its food of choice so it shouldn't be too alarming to see it in your mulch or on a stump in the woods.
Red Raspberry Slime Mold is a beautiful red color when it first appears. It can be found on oak logs.
Their color is a show stopper.
It is so small and pretty with such a pure red color. Indeed it looks like tiny beautiful raspberries.
As it ages, which is rather quickly, it changes colors and becomes brown.
Below: Fresh Red Raspberries Slime Mold
View from the side:
24 hours later:
I had someone tell me today that they thought my slime mold photos were 'gross' and I laughed and said they were absolutely beautiful, mysterious, and exotic living things.
They don't fit in plant, animal, or fungi categories and are considered plasmodial or blobs that eat bacteria. It is more complicated than that, but this part of nature is absolutely fascinating.
US National Parks has a nice easy to read article on slime molds. You can read it here.
Every time I turn around I seem to find something new that amazes me in the forest. The really cool thing is...
I only have to walk out my door and start to look to find incredible beauty in tiny things. Yes, I have been taking a magnifying glass with me!
It is such a shame it got a yucky name.
To tell you the truth, it is fun to look for them. It is sort of like a game of Where's Waldo.
Last up, two pretty white ones that probably turn brown and will disappear after they send off spores.
Coral SM:
There it is. My adventure of two and a half days of searching out slime molds. The conditions were perfect for them. Rain, humidity, heat, and decaying logs in the forest.
Who knows what the next weather event will bring to the forest?
Thank you for sharing your fantastic photographs of these beautiful and exotic slimes. Your close up views of nature are just awesome. I love your "eye".
ReplyDeleteThanks, that is kind of you! :) Just fun and curious stuff!
DeleteI find it interesting and I admire your photography skills. Also, it doesn't look at all slimy.
ReplyDeleteSome does look slimy but that is how it moves for food. I liked biology as a kid and looking at amoebas through the microscope always fascinated me.
DeleteIf I had my way, I'd have a microscope too so I could bring stuff home and look at it!
Well, some slimy stuff is kinda gross looking. Most of what I see in real time looks like bird splat, or similar. It might be lol. However, your close-up pics show the intricate tiny details that get overlooked. Your slimy mold photos are fascinating!! Kinda rude calling out someones photography. Just sayin'. Besides, if you don't like it don't look. As for me, I like looking!
ReplyDeleteI doubt he meant it cruelly, he just was grossed out by knowing that there is such a thing called slime mold. When I told him to check the dime for size reference he was like...OH My that is tiny! I'd never even see it!
DeleteI think slime mold is beautiful and very interesting and I enjoy your photos very much!
ReplyDeleteSlime mold in the summer and lichen in the fall and winter! Tiny stuff!
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