I’ve noticed that the fungi have become so ubiquitous that it’s hard to go anywhere without seeing them, and I asked our social media followers if they’ve noticed the same. I’m definitely not alone. Dozens of images of the mushroom mobs were posted to us on Facebook and Twitter. And with all the imagery pouring in, we’ve learned a number of important facts about our mushy friends, which we’ll briefly detail below.

They are on the Mall:

They like hanging out in neighborhoods:

Mushrooms are science. They can be used as a teaching opportunity, as there are so many types. Tara Bloch wrote on Facebook: “Mushroom hunting at our preschool has become a daily event. We saw all of these on our walk to our playground in one morning.”

Digging deeper, when it comes to feelings about the mushroom invasion, some responses were emphatic and got right to the point.

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“They are gross,” wrote Daniella on Twitter.

Others have watched in amazement as toadstools filled their yards, or noticed how they manage to grow on trees. There seems to be general agreement that the mushrooms have taken over our society.

For a few, the tasty morsels have even caused the tummy to growl.

On Facebook, Christopher Wood posted a somewhat appetizing photo of chanterelles and trumpets that he was preparing for soup. (Reminder: Do not ever eat mushrooms you find outside unless you know for sure what kind they are and whether they are safe to eat. The same goes for allowing pets to eat them.)

Now is also as ideal time as any for fairy ring hunting.

A fairy ring, or fairy circle, is basically what it sounds like — a circle of mushrooms. These rings grow this way naturally based on their life cycles, but they are most common in climates that are perpetually damp.

In some ways the mushroom armies have taken on a life of their own. They have formed communities in all sorts of shapes, colors and sizes. For the most part, they seem to come in peace, although some certainly appear alien in nature.