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Yesterday, I mentioned stinkhorn fungi on mulch. Today, it's bird's nest fungi, also called splash cups. The fungus has a 'nest' and 'eggs'. Rain droplets enter the nest and the eggs are forcibly discharged. These eggs trail a white cord that may wrap around twigs or needles. Often when we get a sample, it's plant material with the eggs wrapped around twigs or plastered on leaves or low fruit on vegetable plants. Bird's nest fungus is not harmful to plants. It commonly grows on mulch and may grow in colonies 6-24 inches wide. As this is not harmful, we suggest doing nothing, other than enjoying another interesting fungus in your garden. Bird's nest fungi are most common on hardwood mulch. If they really bother you, try a different mulch. Bird's nest fungi and eggs are much larger than the spore masses of artillery fungi; so they are easy to separate.
Monarch butterflies are still feeding on butterfly bushes and other flowering plants here in Middle Tennessee. Freezing weather towards the end of the week should put an end to that. My advice for monarchs is to keep heading south.
