Dog Vomit Slime Mold

Recently I guided a photographer friend through the woods at the back of Balintore Castle. He wants to take some wedding photos at the castle, and there is a very good angle looking down at the castle from these woods. The magic viewpoint occurs in a particular clearing, but of course all I could find were nearby clearings where the view was just OK. After dragging my friend in a wedding dress unfriendly manner through the woods, we decided just to leave it there. ;-)

When some later visitors expressed an interest in a walk, I decided a second reconnaissance to find the magic viewpoint would be my way of not admitting defeat. What's more: the first reccie had revealed some interesting fungi. Perhaps something edible could be found?

Many thanks to friend of Balintore and vlogger extraordinaire Brian for finding a bright yellow marvel of natural history deep in these woods. This revels in the name of the Dog Vomit Slime Mold. It was once thought that slime molds were fungi, but these are now regarded as something else. Generally, slime molds live as individual cells, but they can come together and move as a colonial animal.

Dog Vomit Slime Mold at Balintore

Eventually, we did find the correct clearing. Pictured are my friends Allan and Jacki decorating the view. Jacki was returning a Victorian armchair which she had kindly repaired for me for free. A young visitor to Balintore had started bouncing on it, and had gone all the way through. I was really upset as it had taken me over 6 years to find an Victorian suite with original upholstery. Jacki re-webbed and re-upholstered the seat so it is even better than it was before, with a much more comfortable and sprung, rather than saggy, sit. 

magic view of castle from the woods

None of the fungi proper we found on the second reccie turned out to be edible, but watch this space for a more successful fungi update!

To donate to the Balintore restoration project click here.

Thanks to the Seek app for identifying the mold.