Looks like normal mulch decomposition to me. I have a few patches in the yard. Also, if I leave a bag of mulch unopened for a couple of months, I'll have this inside as it starts to decompose in the bag.

Ingrid, fungus isn't necessarily bad. There are good fungi that work in the garden like Diane_nj pointed out that consume organic materials, converting them to compost.

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...

I don't think it's sinister, but it is clearly upsetting you. It's too damn hot to worry so much, so pull it off your plants and throw it in the compost, where the microherd will take care of it for you, while you relax a little.

My guess is that this ugliness is really an important step in the digestion of your mulch and the production of compost. The way I understand it, we feed mulchables to our gardens so that the useful microorganisms in the soil will eat it and poop out the stuff that the plants really need for their nourishment.

Remember how when you take antibiotics all of the bacterial flora in your intestinal track get wiped out and you end up with serious intestinal distress until you add useful bacilli back (often in the form of yogurt made from fresh cultures)? I'm sure if we actually had to look at those critters munching their way through our guts we would not be pleased.

I think you should probably break up the large clumps of the offending material and spread it around a bit to do its good work and then.....go to another part of your garden, sit down in a comfy chair, and drink something delicious while the uglies do their good deeds....

Susan

It looks like the stuff I'm happy to find in my unturned compost pile when I get around to shoveling it out. My grandmother called it 'leaf mold' and poked around under oak trees to find it and add to her garden. And yes it does make the mulch stick together in big clumps.

Okay, everybody, I'm off to have a cold drink on this hot day and want to say thanks to all of you who've put my mind at ease. I shall worry no more. Bless you all.

Ingrid

Might be really old slime mold that has now dried up. That it is in patches would be indicative.

You might be seeing it this year because of our better-than-average rainfall this past winter.

hoovb, I think you might be on to something. Thanks for that insight.

Ingrid

We live on the fungus planet. Most of the skin covering the ground is fungal. In the climax tropical rain forest there is only a thin layer of litter because fungi etc. decay fallen plant and animal material so fast. Sweaty shoes left outside the tend at bedtime may be sprouting mushrooms in the morning.