Probably the mycellium (developing root system) from the mushrooms that grew in that compost. Not harmsul, just breaking down the organics in the soil.

tj

Heavy mycelium/hyphae growth can create a barrier in the soil, preventing the rapid infiltration of water as well as the gas exchange from the soil atmosphere and air. Keep it broken up with a garden fork or similar.

I'm not saying that this is what is contributing to the problems your garden is having, but it's something to look out for.

Thank you both for the insights.

Here is an update. I actually took the pictures 2 days ago, but posted them last night. I just took another look at the garden and lo and behold, I have mushrooms. They are white and stringy with a black base. I cannot completely tell if there is a correlation between where there is more fungus and where the plants are performing poorly, but it might be something I should fork up as you mentioned, rhizo_1.

I also am posting some critters I am finding to make sure everything is okay. Today when I watered, for the first time I saw what appeared to be a colony of ants surfaced all carrying white things(egg sacs?). Also green and brown (violin?) spiders. Are ants good? bad? or neither?

Actually, this is my first "real" garden. I've mostly done pots in the past, so this is a whole new adventure.

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