Forum home The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Reasons to be cheerful 2019 - the antidote to Curmudgeons' Corner

1127128130132133159

Posts

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Thanks Obelixx. I have opened up a new thread with photos seeking opinions and, interestingly, since then I have heard back from Matt Biggs from Gardening Which (and Gardeners’ World) and his view is that it it is bracket fungus not honey fungus. However he still says it would be wise to dig out the stumps. Oh well.
    Rutland, England
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Removing the stumps will provide less fuel for the bootlaces to spread but does bracket fungus infest living trees or just dead stumps?

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=98  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I found no rhizomorphs, and I was unconvinced the white filmy substance under the bark was mycelium. I really don’t know: the RHS mycologist is confident it’s honey fungus but two nationally known gardeners think it’s not. Hmm.
    Rutland, England
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If you're an RHS member you can send samples and photos of the fungus in all its forms and they'll identify it for you. 

    If not, I suggest you join - https://www.rhs.org.uk/join 

    Might save you a few thousand quid and even if it doesn't you'll know what you're dealing with and will get a monthly magazine, free entry to all their gardens and many partner gardens and so on and so forth. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Yep, Obelixx, I do belong to the RHS and have read all their honey fungus information sheets. I sent a set of photos to them and their view was that it is honey fungus. But since then I have stripped off the bark looking, in vain, for the fan-shaped, mushroom-smelling mycelium. However I did find bark with a whitish film like substance and sent a photo of that to the RHS. I am awaiting a reply. But are you saying I could send a little packet of the bark with the white stuff to them? I didn’t know that was an option.
    Rutland, England
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited November 2019
    Yes, you can send samples thru the post.  There's a whole clutch of scientists in their new labs at Wisley.    I seem to remember seeing advice on how to package things like plant samples on the website so have a fossick about.  Make sure you give them your membership no.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • I must say, when you see the scrapes some people’s offspring get into,  it can make you quite pleased with the results of one’s own attempts at parenting 😇 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I must say, when you see the scrapes some people’s offspring get into,  it can make you quite pleased with the results of one’s own attempts at parenting 😇 😉 
    Reminds me of my cousin who went mad at her teenage son when he came home with pink hair.  Her nan said:  "Don't be cross:  be thankful he's done nothing worse."

    My RTBC today is that yesterday my friends Nicholas and Elsa (he a keen gardener and beekeeper) presented me with a bee hotel, complete with wildflower seeds, a booklet about bees and another about growing for pollinators.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    My RTBC today is that the first two flowers on clematis 'Freckles' were found by a lovely big bumble bee who was head down in and buzzing loudly. I've also got the first few flowers on my Camellia 'Crimson King' (which is more pink than red).
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I was having difficulty getting the plastic off a fat block refill - the kind with mealworms. As you do,I went to bite it open and realised just in time😝
    Reason to be cheerful? Oh Yes!!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.