When we got to the park the other day, this is what we saw!!  I have always heard them referred to as "fairy rings."  

 

A fairy ring is a naturally occurring arc of mushrooms.  My understanding is that they spring up from old tree stumps.  The mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that are working to decompose the old tree, and they just keep getting wider and wider as the fungi grow.  However, when I looked up Fairy Ring in Wikipedia:  it mentioned the fungi and its growth over time, but said nothing about tree trunks or stumps.  It did go on and on about legends and myths associated with fairy rings.  

 

I like my description better, because it makes perfect sense.  You can borrow it if you like.  

 

OK, when I put the Seek app on one of the mushrooms, it came up with a description that included the words:  vomit and gastric distress.  OK, that's all I needed to see.  Step away from the mushrooms, don't even touch them.  Good to know.

 

I hope you get to see a fairy ring sometime, and have to explain it to your grandchildren or somebody.  You will remember my story.  Or go look it up yourself and make heads or tails of THAT.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!