A beautiful flower — or is it? One can’t always believe what their eyes tell them. At first glance you’d say “what is this magnificent specimen of flower growing next to my tree?” But wait — this “flower” measures a full 12 inches in diameter — now that would be a BIG blossom! There are a few that could rival that, like the dinner-plate size Hibiscus blossoms, but this one had unusual properties as well.
It is like no other I had ever seen as its brilliant orange (near fluorescent) petals stood out magnificently, only to be overshadowed by the even more brilliant yellow fringe edging each petal displayed.
Believe it or not this “flower” is none other than a fungus growing next to and on a tree in north Goshen.
It was brought to my attention by a devoted reader of my column and thought it would be an interesting subject and topic — she too had never seen anything like it before.
The Rudolphs have lived in the same home for the past 37 years and are avid gardeners, especially since retirement, on their sprawling 5-acre tract that consumes a good deal of time in just mowing chores. A large pond at the rear of their property helps to alleviate some of the mowing and some is left “wild” as a natural habitat.
I could see a lot of old school and tradition in my visit with a, larger-than-most vegetable garden that supplies them with a constant source of fresh vegetables throughout the growing season.
My wife and I have known the Rudolphs since the ’70s as we both had daughters growing up together and there would be many sleep-overs at both places. Our daughter Vicki (most know her from Wal Mart) and Angie were always good buddies while growing up and there was usually a gang of six or eight that always hung out.
Thank you, Vera, for the invite and the unusual topic.
I receive quite a number of calls with the usual “Are you the Tom Yoder that writes the gardening column for The Goshen News? When not at home they’ll leave a message and I try to respond to as many as I can (if name and number are included) because nearly all have new or unusual topics that I’m sure everyone who is a gardener would find as interesting a subject as I do.
A lot of my columns are because of phone calls such as this or when I’m out and about and run into people that recognize or know me. My wife too gets the “You’re Tom Yoder’s wife” who writes the gardening column for The Goshen News aren’t you? She smiles and happily acknowledges the recognition.
Laughing, she’ll continue the conversation with “I’m either Tom Yoder’s wife or Vicki Holden’s mother” (Vicki is a magnet at the Super Wal Mart for everyone who likes her jokes and come-backs) but takes it all in stride because she’s just that kind of person (a loving wife and mother).
Life
Related Photos
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What looks like an exotic flower is actually a fungus growing on the Rudolph property. Tom Yoder
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