Rossbeevera pachydermis (Potato fungus)

Chamonixia pachydermis, is a species of fungus in the family Boletaceae, found in New Zealand. Chamonixia pachydermis is common in areas of New Zealand beech forest and is often partially buried on the ground. It has a blue discoloration and is often found in Autumn.

Stewart Island tokoeka / Southern brown kiwi

Stewart Island tokoeka A. a. lawryi / Southern brown kiwi. Found close to mid day on Ulva Island, a short ferry ride from Golden Bay, Stewart Island.

Dendrobium cunninghamii (Winika)

Dendrobium cunninghamii, commonly known as winika, pekapeka, Christmas orchid, bamboo orchid or ladies slipper orchid, is a species of epiphytic orchids that is endemic to New Zealand. It is commonly found growing in rainforest in the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands and normally flowers in summer and early autumn.

Cyttaria gunnii (Beech orange)

Cyttaria gunnii, commonly known as the myrtle orange or beech orange, is an orange-white coloured and edible ascomycete fungus native to Australia and New Zealand. It is a specific parasite of silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii) trees here in New Zealand.

Lycoperdon perlatum (Common puffball)

Lycoperdon perlatum, popularly known as the common puffball, warted puffball, gem-studded puffball, wolf farts or the devil's snuff-box, is a species of puffball fungus in the family Agaricaceae.

Coprinopsis lagopus (Hare's Foot Inkcap)

Coprinopsis lagopus is a species of fungus in the family Psathyrellaceae. It is a delicate and short-lived fungus, the fruit bodies lasting only a few hours before dissolving into a black ink – a process called deliquescence or auto digestion.

Guyton's garden, Riverton

Today was one of those special days when you get to meet your heroes.

Robert and Robyn Guyton have been tending to this piece of land for almost 30 years in Riverton. It is brimming with all kinds of life and wonderful stories of how that life came to be.

Earthlore, insect conservation

On a typically moist December day in the Catlins (Owaka to be precise) I stopped by Earthlore, a wonderful little retreat dedicated to insect conservation with a well established permaculture based garden.

Kokihi, native spinach pea straw mulch

Kokihi / NZ spinach is an incredibly versatile plant and one that I use almost everywhere.

Lichen

A lichen is made up of at least two living things – a fungus (which cannot make its own food) and an organism that photosynthesises (makes food using sunlight), such as an alga or a cyanobacterium. Together, they form the lichen’s body.

Walking Trees, Parasitic Flowers, and Other Remarkable Plants

Matilda

Two days into our latest lockdown I lost Matilda, my last and loveliest chicken. Thank you for your eggs, thank you for your fertilisation.

Cordycipitaceae (family)

More commonly known as the zombie fungus, Cordyceps infects insects, taking control of motor functions through a process that is still a mystery to science. The fungi then effectively drive the insect to an elevated location where the fruiting bodies of the fungus proceed to explode through the body of the insect, spreading millions of spores into the atmosphere.

The fungal mind: on the evidence for mushroom intelligence

Garden survey, Maungawhau/Mt Eden

It seems appropriate to adorn this post with the mighty Puriri that serves as the matriarch over a huge swathe of the land where I live. I'm no expert at estimating the age of trees but this magnificent specimen has to be at least 300+ years old!

Fantastic ferns

Fernery and Display Houses, Pukekura Park, Taranaki.

Blushing plants reveal when fungi are growing in their roots

Kahikatea Farm

Sunrise over Kahikatea Farm.