Let's Play "Name that 'Shroom"

You can really tell that spring is in the air. Everywhere you go there is a distinct aroma. As I was working in the garden yesterday, (since the electricity was off I couldn't do my usual tasks), there was a familiar odor.I had not experienced this odor prior to the installation of the new garden after the tornado. It is hard to believe that today is the fourth anniversary of the tornado.
After we planted the trees, perennials and shrubs and mulched the yard, we found these orange "things" coming up in various places throughout the garden.

It is the distinctive aroma that leads you to their identity.

They are stinkhorn mushrooms.

They are fascinating mushrooms that use insects to spread their spores

That is why they are called "stinkhorn". They exude an odor that attracts insects.

Hopefully, they will not be around too long. Because of the rain yesterday, they had perfect conditions to develop. If it dries out in the next few days, they will soon just be a smelly memory.

Thanks for your visit to the Americus Garden Inn blog. Stay tuned for more renovation photos soon.

It Feels Like Summer in Americus

I can't believe how beautiful the weather has been here in Americus, Georgia. Today, it was 80 degrees in the shade on the porch. The small sasanqua next to the porch has just exploded with flowers.

The persimmon tree is turning a gorgeous orange hue. Remember, you can click to enlarge the photos.

This crepe myrtle is one of the tornado survivors (from 3 years ago) on the north side of the yard.

The parrotia tree in the front yard.

We are not seeing as many pecans this year. From what we have heard, this is not a good year for the pecan crop.

The gingko tree leaves are a beautiful yellow.

A glimpse of the bald cypress looking up into the tree.

As I was taking the photo of the bald cypress, I smelled a familiar aroma, and not a pleasant one. And then, I found the source. A stinkhorn mushroom.

The stinkhorn mushroom was under the salvia. When we first did the landscaping, two years ago, the stinkhorn mushrooms appeared. We had never seen them before. They are incredibly interesting - this exotic, orange, columnar "thing" appears. The precursor to the mushroom looks like a hard-boiled egg just under the surface. They don't become "stinky" until they are orange. The insects are drawn to the scent and they spread the mushrooms' spores. Fascinating, but "stinky". What is really peculiar is that they normally appear when the soil is damp. But, it hasn't been raining... Hmmmm....

The salvia above the stinkhorn.

As I said, it feels like summer and the "endless summer" hydrangea is blooming, again!

But, there is another stinkhorn directly underneath.

We thought the yarrow was finished for the season, but, it is blooming again.

This past weekend, we had some really wonderful guests staying with us. Some came to attend Jimmy Carter's Sunday School class, some came for Andersonville National Historic Site, Milt came for his fraternity reunion. We had some first time B&B folks and some people just passing through our area. One of our guests was a vegan, so, I made some special things just for her. I found a recipe for vegan yeast pancakes which came out quite good. Lory, here is the recipe that I promised to share.

VEGAN YEAST PANCAKES (small batch for 2 - 3 people about 7 pancakes)

1 cup flour

1 tsp dry yeast (I used rapid rise because that is what I had on hand)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1/2 TBS flaxseed meal

1 1/2 tbs water

1 TBS oil

3/4 cup soy milk (I used vanilla)

1. Whisk first 4 ingredients together in a medium bowl.
2. In the small bowl of the food processor, combine flax and water until thick and foamy.
3. Add oil and soy milk to flax mixture.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry.
5. Allow batter to sit covered overnight in the refrigerator.
6. Remove batter from refrigerator as you heat griddle to proper temperature for pancakes.
7. If batter appears too thick, add a couple of TBS of extra soy milk.
8. Grease griddle lightly using canola oil or use PAM.
9. Cook on one side until golden brown, flip and cook other side until golden.
10. Serve with real maple syrup.

NOTES: I did add a little cinnamon to the batter and fresh banana slices on top. Kim said that the texture was reminiscent of yeast dinner rolls. You can add any fruit, nuts, granola - use your imagination.

Thank you for visiting the Americus Garden Inn blog. We wish everyone a Thanksgiving full of wonderful blessings.