I have several beautiful orange fungi growing in my two year
old garden. They appear mostly between stepping stones (full sun) which
have a deep underlay of gravel and sand, and also in a nearby bed which
is semi-shady. Is this
an indicator of an extreme soil condition that I should remedy? Where
can I learn more?
Most likely, this mushroom is Aleuria aurantia, orange peel fungus or
golden fairy cup.
This species is widespread and common, often growing along roads or paths.
It fruits from late fall to early spring.
It doesn’t seem to be a problem for gardens….I would enjoy it as an added
bit of fall color when it pops up in your garden.
Here is a
link to a website in California with a nice picture and some information on Aleuria aurantia.