Hello, fellow lovers of all things green,
Last week we chatted about Fun Fall Fungi showing up in our lawns—some edible, such as the volleyball-sized Giant Puffball Mushrooms, one of the “Foolproof Four” for first-time foragers. And some that are poisonous, such as the bright orange Jack-O’-Lantern mushroom that glows in the dark.
Giant Puffball Mushrooms
Jack-o’-Lantern Mushroom
And we spoke about how Mushrooms appear suddenly and mysteriously from what seems like nowhere, a quality that has led many cultures to view them as gateways between different realms, or to the spirit world, which brings me to the topic of Fairy Rings.
Craig’s garden dilemmas of Frelinghuysen, NJ, always bring a chuckle, such as when his Weeping Willows Went Wild next to his pool, causing hours of cleanup. He went on a funny rant about each stage of his dirty dilemma, giving us all a good laugh. Then a massive army of ants took up residence under his trees, feeding on the gooey substance called honeydew caused by the giant willow aphids that had infested his trees. Ultimately, he removed the trees closest to the pool.
Craig’s Double Ring Dilemma
Since then, Craig has had two rings that have made recurring visits to his lawn over the past few years in the same place. Each one is about ten feet wide and spaced five feet apart.
Craig and Caroline’s Fairy Rings – see the dark green circle above the brown one? And notice Craig’s perfectly striped lawn! Wowee!
He and Caroline live in front of a farm field and thought pesticides used over the years could be causing the mysterious rings. Their wellhead is in the vicinity, so the worry of chemicals is especially warranted. Craig worried the worst—that they’d discover the contamination, which would require chemical remediation costing tens of thousands of dollars.
“Maybe it would be best to sell and get out of Dodge before the discovery.” Holy moly!
Leave it to Craig to drill down to get to the bottom of the mystery. So much so that he dug a three-foot hole to investigate if indeed he had something buried in the yard – perhaps old, abandoned silos, he thought? Then, his wife Caroline’s research offered relief, revealing they have Fairy Rings.
Fairy Rings – a Natural Phenomenon with Folklore
Fairy Rings show up in lawns during the spring and summer months. They appear as dark green or brown circular bands ranging in size from a few inches to fifty feet. The Fairy Ring fungus grows outward a few inches to several feet a year. Mushrooms can then develop in a circle outside of the rings during spring and fall after periods of heavy rain.
Thanks, Lexi, for posing for your fastidious father. I’m eager to hear what Craig’s next garden dilemma will be!
Centuries ago, people believed that mushrooms appeared where fairies had danced the night before, hence the name “fairy ring.” Other folklore suggests that these bizarre formations are the work of supernatural beings or portals to different worlds.
There are about sixty mushroom species that can grow in the fairy ring pattern. Grass-loving mushrooms such as the edible Scotch Bonnet are the most well-known.
Fungi turn decay into life – so can we.
Mushrooms are indeed fascinating. They are the fruiting body of a vast, unseen network of mycelium that connects plants across a forest floor. Folks call it the “Wood Wide Web.” The individual mushroom is only the temporary, visible fruit of a far greater organism.
Fungi are nature’s recyclers, turning decay into life, bringing a thought as we witness the discord, heinous acts of violence, and the hate that is growing in our world. Perhaps, beyond hate, there is unseen healing and growth as more of us realize that hate, which often stems from fear (over perceived threats to one’s sense of self, values, or way of life), perpetuates more hate. We can change things.
Like the underground mycelium silently creating fertile soil to nurture the next seasons of growth, as more of us become aware of how destructive perpetuating violence, discord, and hate is, we are progressing towards peace for generations to come— Even though we may not be able to see the shift to loving thy neighbor growing worldwide. And loving thy neighbor includes our natural world.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com and your favorite Podcast App.
There is more to the story in the Garden Dilemma’s Podcast, including a heartfelt story from Blaine Rothauser about a Copperhead snake bite. Please tune in and share with others. We CAN change things. Thank you!
Related Posts and Podcasts:
Fun Fall Fungi in Lawns – Blog Post / Ep 222. Fascinating Fungi and Wood Wide Web
Curious Copperhead Encounters – Blog Post / Ep 221. Curious Copperhead Encounters
Craig’s Weeping Willows Gone Wild – Blog Post
