Country diary: Waking up to the glory of waxcaps

Buxton, Derbyshire: This previously overlooked group of fungi are the best of autumn - you can find up to 40 species in just one fieldThe autumn has given me a perfect lesson in what wonders lie around us but often go completely unnoticed. This story involves the field opposite our house, visible at all times from my office and familiar to me for 50 years.Last month, I presumed I was being observant already: to spot white orbs appearing at intervals in its expanse, and to recognise these as horse mushrooms (which were retrieved as glorious additions to our seasonal diet). After a week away, however, I looked out and was astonished to see thousands of pale specks, as if some bizarre terrestrial heat rash had afflicted the turf. Continue reading...