Becky WernMaster Gardener| Florida Times-Union
I found a big mushroom behind my AC unit. How did it get there? How do you know if mushrooms are safe to eat?
Fungi are kind of neat little above-ground packages, made to fruit for the extensive world of mycelium— rooting bodies — underground. But don’t even think about eating them. Snap them off, preferably with gloves or a bag on your hands. Otherwise, make a point of washing your hands immediately. Many types of mushrooms can cause damage to humans and pets in many ways. Identifying them belongs to the mycologists because mushrooms are not easy to ID. And the consequences of a mistake are too threatening. Small amounts of a toxic mushroom can damage your organs irreparably or cause death. It’s not something to leave to chance.
At the base of the mushroom, it is attached to a huge underground network of whitish string-like material. Those are mycelia and extend surprising distances and play surprising roles. Over currently evolving scientific discoveries, it has been discovered that these mycelia, which grow much more rapidly than tree roots, work as go-betweens among the trees. They transfer nutrients from larger trees to smaller, weaker trees. They may carry those nutrients quite a distance to support the growth of a needy tree from a tree that has plenty. It’s fascinating information about how the trees in our neighborhoods are communicating and sharing. They also carry information about insect attacks, using chemical changes to signal the attacks and help trees make chemical changes to ward off attacks.
A presence of mycelia under your turf and mulched areas is a sign that you have an abundance of organic matter in your soil. This is wonderful for your plants, and as one site noted, marks you as a good gardener!
Now: how does a mushroom find its way into a yard without previous mushrooms? Research shows that the spore can produce the smallest breeze by releasing moisture. The release gives the spore a little upward movement, which allows it to catch a breeze up and away.
I have been unable to get out in the heat. Is it too late to cut plants back? I’m not worrying about flowers.
If you are going to do hard pruning, taking off 1/3 of the plant, it is too late. That will stimulate growth. Right now, it might seem like it is still summer out there, but the plants are aware that the seasons have changed. The days are shorter, have been getting shorter since late June. Nights are longer and getting cooler. These things have signaled to the plants and animals that it is time to move to a more dormant state. Only a light trimming now!
The drabness of winter is depressing for me. What can I plan to brighten it up?
Oh, there is so much. There are so many bright, blooming plants that love our winters. Some of them may not be in the nurseries yet— we are in a transitional time now. But if you want to grow your own plants from seed or you want to plan for your winter beds, watch for winter pansies and their cousins johnny jumpups. They don’t care about the cold and in a sunny spot will brighten up the winter days. Snapdragons also stand tall through the winter. Flowering kale and cabbage both tolerate a little shade and will give you some color and are hardy against the cold. Dusty Miller is a lovely foil against some of your greenery and will live on after winter is gone.
The hardy cyclamen has become a new favorite of mine because it will bloom in a rainbow of colors in my shady front yard. And it laughs at cold weather. Not many nurseries are carrying them. Too bad. They are gorgeous.
"Snow Princess" Sweet Alyssum is the new standard for alyssums in the south. Just keep it watered and the soil well drained and avoid bumping it. Although it doesn’t suffer permanent damage, the tiny blooms do fall off!
Annual poppy seeds can be planted now as can annual holly hocks. You will have to order the sets online to ensure you get the annual varieties. Perennial varieties are slower growing and don’t make it to flowering.
Most years geraniums are a good choice. This year we are predicted to have a wet winter. Geraniums don’t like wet foliage, so I’m hesitant to recommend them. So, geraniums will be a good choice if grown under cover.
Don’t forget to use herbs and vegetables like lavender, lettuce and Swiss chard. They are beautiful and useful.
Any or all these work in containers, or small spots in landscape beds. Plan now and get to work. Winter is coming!
Becky Wern is a Master Gardener with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS. For gardening questions, call the Duval County Extension Office at (904) 255-7450 from 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and ask for a Master Gardener.
