Good afternoon...
Would anyone be able to identify this issue? It's my first time seeing it and I've run it past a couple of friends that were also at a loss. Hopefully someone will know? Thank you in advance...Clint

It's a bit difficult to see what it is but since it appears to be on objects as well as the plant, my first guess would be slime mold:

https://www.google.ca/search?q...

If it doesn't look like that, does it look like shed aphid skins?

https://daylilies.org/wp-conte...

Clint, for some reason, I can't zoom in on the photo. My first reaction is some kind of insect egg masses. You might try taking a sample down to your local county Extension office to see if anyone there can identify them. Call first, though, because Extension isn't what it used to be. They don't even do soil samples in Iowa anymore...they refer you to a commercial lab. But if you have an active bunch of Master Gardeners, they might still be doing plant clinics.

Thank you Sue. The fact that it's also on the plastic is confusing me too. Slime mold comes close to looking like it (it resembles the images I found of slime mold on turf grass). I've rules out aphid ectoskeletons.

Thank you Hawkeye_Daddy. Good suggestions. I don't know why the image won't zoom in though.

Clint59 said:Thank you Sue. The fact that it's also on the plastic is confusing me too. Slime mold comes close to looking like it (it resembles the images I found of slime mold on turf grass). I've rules out aphid ectoskeletons.

I would try and wash it off with a blast of water next time your weather is expected to be dry for a while, if it hasn't gone away by itself by then. That's what's usually recommended for slime mold on turf.

Thanks again Sue. I'll try that.