What’s the orange stuff growing on that log? It’s not the same as the orange mushrooms you sometimes see (Cantharellus). This is a slime mold called wolf’s milk (Lycogala, probably Lycogala epidendrum). I found this on a log one day last week. The next day, I happened to be walking along the same path. The picture on the right shows how much the color changed in just 24 hours. I’m not sure how long the slime mold was orange before it turned into its mature, brown color. My understanding is that it can be orange for one to three days. The bright orange really caught my attention, but the brown blends in with the environment. I probably wouldn’t have even looked at it if it was brown the first time I saw it. I was lucky to notice it when I did, and I learned something new!
Stay curious!