07/19/2022
What's with those mushrooms?!
This has been one of the most common questions we've been asked in the past few days --and rightfully so! This mysterious ring of mushrooms, pictured above, seemingly just appeared on the parade ground and form a near perfect circle.
These fantastic fungi are commonly referred to as fairy rings. According to folklore, these places were the dwellings of various mystical creatures, such as fairies, elves, and witches.
Science offers a no less fascinating explanation. These rings occur when a mushroom spore lands on a favorable piece of ground and grows a mycelium, which is a network of fungal threads. This spore spreads out in a circular fashion with these underground threads, also known as hyphae. At the very edges of the mycelium, mushrooms appear and form the ring. These marvelous mushrooms expand and, if undisturbed, can grow year after year.
Much of the folklore warns humans not to step inside the fairy rings. Why is that? We'll leave that for you to decide!
Image: A ring of light-colored mushrooms on the parade ground of Fort Pulaski. (NPS/Doherty)
