Autumn Mushroom Guide: Learning to Identify What Grows in My Garden

After autumn rains, mushrooms appear overnight in the garden. This is a beginner's guide covering the most common types: puffballs (Calvatia/Lycoperdon), field mushrooms (Agaricus), wood ear and oyster mushrooms (Auricularia/Pleurotus), and pale-capped soil mushrooms (Lepista/Clitocybe). Includes dangerous myths to ignore, safe foraging rules, and why garden mushrooms are generally beneficial for soil health. Key rule: never eat a mushroom you are not 100% certain of.