Houghton Garden Nature Walk

In between classes today, I decided to join a group of fellow classmates to walk near campus and look for fungi. We left campus and headed toward Houghton Garden, which is right off Hammond Street. It was lightly raining as we were walking through the garden. However, the rain made the walk that much more beautiful. Additionally, the weather was the perfect temperature, not too hot or too cold. I never knew this small garden existed and was very impressed by the beauty of it, especially during this time of year when the leaves are changing. Once I entered the gated area, I started walking along a little trail that loops around the trees. I reached the middle of the garden and noticed a small stream running through the center. The raindrops and colorful leaves were falling graciously into the water. Due to the rain, I didn't see many squirrels or chipmunks, who I assume were taking shelter from the weather. However, I observed many different species of trees, leaves, weeds, and, most importantly, fungi. Initially it was difficult to spot the fungi, but once I found one mushroom, it seemed as though there was fungi everywhere. I'm sure this patch of greenery and wildlife is the perfect environment for fungi to grow; the ground was mostly damp and full of soil and plant debris. I observed fungi of all different sizes, shapes, and colors. Some fungi stood alone, and others grew in colonies. I discovered some in the grass and others on trees. Overall, I was shocked by the amount of fungi I found. I loved exploring the garden as well as searching for different kinds of fungi. It was an amazing experience and I hope to go back in the near future.

Posted on October 6, 2022 01:57 AM by