There is something magical about stepping into the woods on a crisp autumn morning—when the air bites just a little, the ground is soft with fallen needles, and the forest feels quieter, as if holding its breath. Richmond Nature Park was exactly that quiet sanctuary when we set out for a walk in search of mushrooms, the small hidden treasures of the season.
At first, the chill lingered. My hands tucked themselves deeper into my pockets, and each exhale made a small cloud in the cold air. But there’s a warmth that comes not from the temperature, but from the excitement of discovery—and on this walk, that warmth found us quickly.
We spotted our first mushroom just off the trail, a small caramel-colored cap glowing against the moss. Then another. And another. Soon the forest floor transformed into a living gallery—tiny orange clusters, tall slender stems, white caps dusted with morning dew. Each one felt like a little secret revealed only to those who slowed down enough to notice.
There is a joy in mushroom hunting that has nothing to do with collecting and everything to do with paying attention. You walk softer. You look closer. You stop often, kneeling near old logs or peeking under salal leaves, letting the forest guide your gaze. And with every new find, the chilly morning no longer felt cold at all. Instead, the woods wrapped around us like a gentle, earthy embrace.
By the time we looped back toward the trailhead, our hearts were full. The mushrooms—delicate, strange, beautiful—reminded us that autumn is more than the color of leaves. It’s a season of hidden wonders, of quiet magic waiting at our feet.
Every walk has a story, but this one felt like a treasure hunt—one where the reward wasn’t what we found, but how the forest made us feel: attentive, grateful, and wonderfully alive.
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Phuong Dinh 