If there is one thing that screams "I'm old" in the garden it's the addition of lichens. Growing on walls, tree trunks and even along paths, lichen moss can age a garden quite dramatically regardless of its true measure.

What are lichens?

Lichens are a type of fungi that survive on air rather than being a parasite of their host. In fact, if lichens are growing in your garden it's a good sign that the air quality of their environment is good.

Lichens don't grow roots and they have no need to contain reservoirs of water. They just willing spread themselves across their host and wait for moisture to present itself. And they won't hurt their host either. Most lichens just attach themselves and then continue to grow.

Removing Lichens

Some gardeners can't tolerate lichens growing in their gardens and will treat these mosses with fungicides and sprays attempting to rid them. However, the best way to remove lichen from a tree or a wall is to use a light scrubbing bush and warm water.

If you are growing ornamental trees for their bark you may find that the lichen detracts from this feature so removing it might be the best option.

How to grow Lichens

For those of us who appreciate lichens and relish the idea of being able to make our gardens look older than they are, growing lichens is quite easy. Firstly, make sure the location of your desired lichens is not in full sun. Most lichens appreciate, or at least tolerate, dappled shade but rarely do they survive in full sun unless its a really cold climate.

Second, paint the area you wish to have lichen growing with a liquid seaweed fertilizer. Another option is to use a spray bottle and mix equal parts yoghurt and water. Then spray the area quite liberally.

If this doesn't work immediately, repeat the procedure until it does.

Summer is probably the only season which is not suitable for trying this process but the other nine months are quite accommodating.

Types of Lichen Moss - Source: Wikipedia

• Crustose - these lichen resemble dobs of paint an remain quite flat against their host.


• Filamentose - as the name suggests these lichen are more hair-like resembling filaments


• Foliose - these leafy lichens are more prone to growing on tree trunks in shaded areas.


• Fruticose - resembling deer antlers this form of lichen is very showy and detailed.


• Leprose - if you've ever seen pictures of a lepar you will understand the naming of this lichen. Randomly spotty it almost looks insidiously contagious.


• Squamulose - a rarer form of lichen this one looks like it has scales

Growing lichens in your garden can have a positive effect predominantly aging it and adding another level of interest for your visitors. They're also a cheap gauge for what the air quality is like in your backyard.

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If you've been following Lisa's blog Millertime recently you would have enjoyed her posts on growing mushrooms indoors. It's a great concept for gardeners wanting to experiment with growing mushrooms and will keep you busy during the cold winter months when everything else in the garden is hibernating.

What was even more exciting about seeing these mushrooms pop up was finding out that it had only taken Lisa 5 days beore she was able to harvest them. The variety Lisa started with was the Oyster Mushroom but any gardener can grow Shiitakes, Enokis and even Morels.

The beauty of growing mushrooms via a kit is the convenience. Most mushroom kits come complete with the substrate (or growing medium) and includes the mycelium ready to bear. Combine the two and Voila! you have an alternative meal for dinner.

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This fungi was shown online at Boing Boing because of its wonderful intestine looking features yet apparently it tastes like chicken - doesn't everything?

However, if you find one of these growing in the woods on the side of an aged willow tree don't be so hasty to hoe in. More than half the population are allergic to this kind of fungi that may result in a swollen tongue but so long as you try a fresh piece you may be okay.

The further the growing season the less taste it has and more chance of it resulting in side effects. For more information follow the comments at its original posting.

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When I was working as a chef, it almost seems like a past life now, I would become overawed when faced with a new ingredient. Mushrooms were no exception. As soon as you learnt to deal with field mushrooms along came shiitakes, enokis, oysters and salmon mushrooms. Then it was onto ceps, swiss browns and then the elusive Perigord truffle. What I wish I could have tried though were morel mushrooms.

This delicacy from the fungus world is all the rage in the US during middle to late spring as people engage in the hunting of morel mushrooms. Finding morel mushrooms and picking them is a major attraction and hunting tours and competitions spring up all over America.

Continue reading "How to grow morel mushrooms" »

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