I tend to think that the coming of Autumn means the end of my nature adventures. No more balmy, evening strolls, no wanders through wildflowers. It was a nice reminder when I stepped out into the backyard a couple of chilly nights ago that the world does indeed go on. Yes, even as the temperatures plummet. We had bats swirling across the sky, a bandicoot bouncing around and digging in the mulch, a mumma possum and her rust-coloured joey hanging onto her back for dear life and a Peron's tree frog bouncing around in the low-hanging foliage when I brushed past. But Autumn brings with it so much more. Crystal-clear night skies perfect for stargazing, leaves turning shades of blazing orange and red and fungi, so much fungi.
Fungi hunting is fun and it's fascinating. I should point out I'm referring to hunting with your eyes and not your stomach here. The differences between the edible and inedible mushrooms are too difficult to distinguish for an amateur like me and the consequences too great. Oh, hey there, vomiting for days and sometimes death. So take an expert with you if you'd like to hunt for the delicious varieties.
It's also an often overlooked pastime. It means slowing right down, peering into leaf litter and around and behind dead and dying organic matter. It means peering at the teeniest of parasols and searching in the dark for glowing ghost mushrooms.
glow at night. Photo: Amanda De George
If you'd like to try your hand at fungi hunting, it's easy. Head to your nearby park, to the Botanic Gardens or to one of the many rainforests and bush walks we have in the region. Spend some time poking around the cooler, darker areas, especially around leaf litter, mulch piles, old tree stumps or fallen logs.
Some of these mushies are tiny, but colourful little parasols while others are the size of dinner plates attached to the side of soaring trees.
Expect the unexpected and to help with identifying your finds, we recommend this great field guide to some of the common species around the area or you could try the Australia & New Zealand Fungus Identification Facebook page for more information.
