Move over, traditional autumn plants – there's a new botanical star emerging at RHS Garden Wisley, and it's not what you might expect. The renowned Surrey garden is currently hosting a spectacular natural display that celebrates the often-overlooked beauty of fungi in all their mysterious glory.
Nature's Underground Network Takes Centre Stage
Throughout the 240-acre garden, visitors are treated to a fascinating array of mushrooms and toadstools pushing through the soil in a stunning natural exhibition. From delicate parasol mushrooms to vibrant scarlet elf cups and classic fly agaric with their distinctive red-and-white spotted caps, the fungal diversity on show is truly remarkable.
"Many gardeners consider fungi as something to be removed, but they're actually vital to ecosystem health," explains a senior RHS horticultural advisor. "This natural display demonstrates just how beautiful and important these organisms are."
Why Autumn is Prime Fungus Season
The current damp and mild weather conditions have created the perfect environment for fungal growth. Unlike plants that rely on photosynthesis, fungi obtain nutrients through decomposition and symbiotic relationships with trees and other plants.
The perfect conditions for fungal flourishing include:
- Moist soil from recent rainfall
- Mild temperatures that prevent frost damage
- Decaying organic matter providing essential nutrients
- Established tree root systems forming mycorrhizal relationships
A Mycological Masterpiece in Surrey
Visitors to Wisley can follow designated paths through the garden's woodland areas to discover these fungal treasures. The display changes daily as new specimens emerge and others complete their life cycles, making each visit unique.
Garden experts are on hand to help identify different species and explain their ecological roles, from breaking down dead plant material to forming crucial partnerships with living trees.
"It's like a hidden world revealing itself," one visitor remarked. "You start noticing these incredible forms and colours everywhere once you know what to look for."
Planning Your Fungal Foray
The fungal display is expected to continue throughout October and into November, weather permitting. Early morning visits often provide the best viewing opportunities, when dew-kissed mushrooms appear at their most photogenic.
While the display is entirely natural rather than cultivated, garden staff have taken care to preserve emerging fungi along pathways and in ornamental areas. They remind visitors to look but not touch, as many fungi are fragile and some can be poisonous if handled or consumed.
This unexpected autumn spectacle offers a powerful reminder that beauty in the garden comes in many forms – even those that emerge from decay and operate largely out of sight.
