Have you ever spotted something strange in your garden and had no idea what it was? That’s exactly what happened during a visit to a friend’s home. Between two flowerbeds, we noticed tiny, perfectly round shapes nestled in the damp soil, arranged like miniature nests. At first, we thought they might be seeds or insect eggs, but nothing quite matched what we were seeing. Curious, we showed the photos to my friend’s grandfather, an experienced gardener.
His eyes lit up instantly. “Those are birds’ nest mushrooms!” he said. These fascinating fungi, known as Nidulariaceae, resemble tiny nests filled with eggs. The “eggs,” however, are actually spore-filled capsules. When raindrops hit them, the capsules scatter, spreading spores efficiently across the soil.
The discovery reminded us how many hidden wonders lie beneath our feet. Since then, every walk through a garden feels like an invitation to notice the quiet magic of nature.