Mushrooms: Nasty, Unwanted But Often Tasty
The sudden change in seasons from September sun to October rain brings fresh challenges to the Abbey House Gardens. Spotted in the rose beds adjacent to the top lawn was a rather unwelcome visitor, the Honey Fungus Mushroom. It loves old trunks and stumps as a place to grow, its probably sprung from the old Cherry Tree that once presided in that area of the gardens.
Below is a picture of the fungus, its an enemy of all gardeners as its one of the most dangerous parasites for trees, causing an intensive white rot and ultimately death to any plant that it infects. Not a welcome addition to the rare Rose beds. It was dealt with immediately and all the roots and spores destroyed.
The Honey Fungus Mushroom does have some redeeming qualities, its non poisonous and edible. Ian is sampled a clump with his breakfast after a bit of prep work.
A fascinating and beautiful fact attached to the Honey Mushroom Fungus relates back to Medieval times. The root (or Rhizomorph) of the mushroom that flourishes in the earth makes it way through the soil to find a tree or plant to infect. If you find one of the roots and then examine it in the dark you should find that its luminous. In medieval times they considered the roots to have healing qualities and used them to light hay barns and other ancient dwellings with clusters of them gathered together. These luminous light roots developed the first ever notion of the 'magic wand'!!!
