What’s the frothy, blob-like growth under my mountain laurel?

Thanks, Donald Ray, for sending us a picture of slime mold! Some even refer to it as “dog vomit.”

We often see it in gardens, especially in mulched beds and paths that may be staying a little too wet, as in periods of lots of rain. That was the deal for Donald; it showed up after May rains.

In dry summers, you might find it if you have a broken pipe or busted sprinkler head.

Slime molds are unique creatures that don’t fit into any categories that we’re familiar with. Although they have fungus-like characteristics, they aren’t fungi. They exist in nature as a “blob” and are often bright yellow, and even sometimes red.

Their preferred food source is bacteria, so they aren’t feeding on your plants. They occur when there is high relative humidity, ample moisture for organic matter to decay, and warm temperatures.

Although they are unsightly, they’re not harmful to humans or animals. And they’ll run their course fairly quickly, so there’s no need to do anything about them. At most, simply remove and toss them in the garbage or compost pile, or just break them up with a rake or a strong jet of water.