Here’s another sign that autumn’s come early this year. In previous years I’ve not seen these waxcaps in my area until very late September, mostly during October, but this year they’re fruiting now, at least a month earlier than usual.

These are Persistent waxcaps (Hygrocybe acutoconica). At first glance, with their conical caps and yellow-orange colour, they look very similar to Blackening waxcaps (Hygrocybe conica) but these don’t blacken. Persistents are the only waxcaps I find locally so it’s always a pleasure to see them, even if it does mean an early autumn.