The Fringed Gentian™ a Publication of Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, Inc
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FALL 2018 VOL. 66 NO. 3 THE FRINGED GENTIAN™ A PUBLICATION OF FRIENDS OF THE WILD FLOWER GARDEN, INC. Slime molds are “detriti- vores,” meaning they eat Brilliance of bacteria, organic debris and sometimes fungi, breaking the Forest down rotting vegetation and By Ron Spinosa recycling nutrients for other species to utilize. They are ey, did you hear the one about the slime eaten by organisms such as mold in a maze? No, this is not a joke — slugs, insects and even fungi. Hslime molds are smart enough to solve There is an entire family of a maze. If you are ‘amazed’ by that feat, you will slime mold beetles, Sphin- be even more surprised to learn that scientists didae, that feed exclusively on recently created a robot that uses a slime mold slime molds. as its brain — a slime-bot. F BRUITING ODIES NT O A PLANT, NOT AN ANIMAL When food becomes scarce or Until recently slime molds belonged to a environmental conditions are group of organisms called Myxomycetes, or unfavorable, slime molds shift “slime-fungus.” But slime molds are not into the reproductive stage. actually fungi. They are in the same kingdom They undergo an amazing metamorphosis and as amoebae and have more in common transform into “fruiting bodies,” as different with animals than fungi. Their new name, from plasmodia as a butterfly is to a caterpillar. Mycetozoa, means “fungus-animal,” and A magnifying glass is needed to appreciate the indeed, they move around and ingest food in a fruiting bodies of most species, of which there manner similar to amoebas, but reproduce like are hundreds. Fruiting bodies are only about a fungi, by shedding spores. Let’s take a look. millimeter tall and typically consist of a spore The slime molds you might see in the Garden capsule on a stem, like a golf ball on a tee. They are called “plasmodial” slime molds. This type can be exceedingly beautiful and are well worth of slime mold has a two-stage life cycle, and (top) YELLOW-FUZZ CONE SLIME MOLD, Hemitrichia the effort to seek out. A few species of slime appears quite different during each stage. In clavata (mature, left, and immature, right) molds have considerably larger fruiting bodies. (above) DOG VOMIT SLIME MOLD, Fuligo septica the feeding or vegetative stage it is known as (plasmodial phase) photos: Ron Spinosa Dog vomit slime mold, Fuligo septica, can be as a “plasmodium.” Think of it as a giant amoeba big as a dinner plate and resembles exactly what that contains myriads of nuclei enclosed in a its common name implies. Another species that slime mold. You might encounter the single cell membrane. It creeps and crawls like is easily spotted is the chocolate tube slime, Ste- plasmodial stage as a blob of yellow living an amoeba, using pseudopods for locomotion. monitis splendens, which looks like a tuft of horse slime networked with veins. The blob It is in fact a single cell of colossal proportion— hair on the surface of a log. moves too slowly to observe its motion– indeed, the largest cell found in nature. continued on page 4 a millimeter or so per hour. You can The color of a plasmodium can be red, yellow, find plasmodia in cool, shady, moist habi- orange or white, depending on the species of tats such as rotting logs, stumps or leaf litter. (From left to right) CHOCOLATE TUBE SLIME MOLD, Stemonitis sp.; WHITE CORAL SLIME MOLD, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa; RASPBERRY SLIME MOLD, Tubifera ferruginosa (black are more mature); WOLF’S MILK SLIME MOLD, Lycogala epidendrum; YELLOW-FUZZ CONE SLIME MOLD, Hemitrichia clavata (immature) photos: Maia Campbell and Ron Spinosa “ A WILD GARDEN IS BEAUTIFUL AT ALL SEASONS ” – ELOISE BUTLER Letter froM THE President as Vice President as well, and Jennifer assures us that she will be a worker bee wherever else the Friends may need her. Dear Friends, If you are a member, you have received the first informational group In some calendars, the new year begins in the fall, with harvesting the email from the Friends. Our message carried news of the boardwalk fruits of the year’s labors. I like the idea of easing into a new year at a construction taking place this fall and – bonus! – a photo of “dog’s nose time of plenty, followed by a time of rest and wintry introspection. Every fungus” found in the Garden. The email was the joint project of Lauren season gets its due. Hustings (board member, trom- bone virtuoso and founding This autumn newsletter member of Brass Lassies) and finds us with some transi- Gary Bebeau. We are plan- tions within the Friends ning future outreach via this organization, with a little approach, and meanwhile, you musical chairs going on. One can learn about “dog vomit slime of my goals for the Friends mold” in these pages. has been to increase engage- ment of board members by Finally, Betsy McNerney – the encouraging their involve- editor of this lovely newslet- ment in special projects. ter – is resigning the position The Friends are fortunate to join her husband on his to have a creative and pas- sabbatical travels this year. We sionate board willing to are grateful that she has taken take on several exciting new the Gentian to a level of profes- opportunities. sionalism and beauty, and hope GLINTS OF SUMMER’S END surround a juvenile and adult goldfnch feeding in a stand of she will find time to contribute Steve Benson has long served conefower in the Upland Garden. photo: Phyllis Zenk to it in the future. At this time, I as the Friends investments am very pleased to announce that Friends board member Colin Bartol chair, providing many years of sound and thoughtful management. will take over as editor. He brings to the role an award-winning back- Steve is now focusing on the Friends efforts to revive the Lady’s Slip- ground as an editor and superb organizational skills and vision. per Celebration in June, in cooperation with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. Gary Bebeau (who already serves as treasurer, memo- My sincere appreciation goes to Steve, Jennifer, and Betsy for all they rials chair and website coordinator) has kindly consented to take on the have done in important roles over the years. You have made a tremen- investments chair role. Many thanks to Steve for his past service, and my dous difference in the efforts of the Friends. Many thanks to Gary, gratitude to Gary for assuming the investments chair duties. Melissa, Lauren and Colin for the new roles you are assuming. Jennifer Dunne has played an extraordinary role in recruiting, training, To the members of the Friends, and to all friends of the Garden, scheduling and nurturing our corps of volunteers, making the volunteer thanks for a great season, and for all your love and support for this experience lively and fun. Jennifer is leaving her post as volunteer coor- beautiful place. dinator, but we are cheered that Melissa Hansen is stepping back into this position, which she previously held. Melissa will continue for now Sincerely, Kathleen Connelly A Gift to the Friends Can Save on Taxes OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Board Members By Steve Pundt First, giving appreciated stock to a charity PRESIDENT Gentian Editor avoids having to pay the capital gains tax. Kathleen Connelly Betsy McNerney espite recent tax changes, great Second, transferring funds from an IRA directly VICE PRESIDENT, HISTORIAN strategies still exist for realizing tax VOLUNTEERS CHAIR Jennifer Olson to a charity satisfies part of the “Required Melissa Hansen benefits from your donations Minimum Distribution” for those 70 ½ or older. INVASIVE PLANT CHAIR D TREASURER, MONEY Jim Proctor to Friends of the Wild Flower Garden. Contact your accountant for details MANAGEMENT, MEMORIALS CHAIR, Colin Bartol on how much your donation could WEBSITE COORDINATOR Steve Benson Since 1953, gifts to the Friends Gary Bebeau Jennifer Dunne save you. Lauren Husting have been tax deductible due to our SECRETARY Sally Pundt Candyce Bartol Steve Pundt qualified 501(c)(3) status. However, Please also consider a gift to the Friends Barry Schade PAST PRESIDENT many individuals won’t be itemizing in your will or trust, or designate J. Pam Weiner GARDEN CURATOR, EX OFFICIO deductions on their 2018 tax return due a specific amount or percentage of MEMBERSHIP CHAIR to an increase in the standard deduction under your life insurance or bank account. For more Jayne Funk Susan Wilkins the 2017 Tax Act. Here’s how you can give to information, contact Friends board member the Garden and continue to save on taxes: Steve Pundt at [email protected]. ❀ Invasive Plant Coordinators Liz Anderson 2 Kari Christianson pre-school programs were offered by Garden naturalists. The Nature Tots program was Garden offered weekly and Garden Story Time was offered twice weekly, with over 560 participants registered throughout the season. Thanks to Curator’s the high-quality programming developed and led by Garden naturalists, the children and Notes their parents kept coming back for more! photo: Kari Christianson Kari photo: By Susan Wilkins Over 3,000 people participated in free and paid programs led t’s been a beautiful by Garden natural- and busy season ists in 2018. This I at the Wildflower includes the free Garden. Although we public tours offered opened a month later frequently through- than scheduled due to out the week, such as wintry conditions, we Early Birders, paid welcomed an astound- public tours like ing 14,025 visitors at Full Moon Hikes, the Martha E. Crone and over 80 special Shelter from May 1 group programs through October 31.