No, they aren't mulched, the only thing underneath is grass and a few dead leaves. Funny thing is last year was the first year we ever had azalea caterpillars hit our azaleas. They almost ate all the leaves before we noticed them.
My experience has been that if you suddenly have a pest issue with a perennial that hasn't had problems in the past, the plant might have underlying health problems. Apparently sick plants send out chemical signals that attract bugs (both harmful ones and the beneficial ones that eat the baddies). A lot of Fungi don't fruit the first year they've infected a host.
It almost seems like it would have to be related to the pest last year. My neighbor next door also has a ton of these mushrooms in her yard. She doesn't have azaleas, but I have another line of them on the border with her property. I appreciate all your input. The azaleas bloomed beautifully this year, as always. I have one that blooms 2 different colors. It's my favorite, along with the one i call "Smoke". It is all white and when fully bloomed, it looks like a smoke cloud.
My first guess (and that's the best I can do with the photos) is some type of Armillaria, which is a root rot that affects azaleas. http://www.eattheweeds.com/ringless-honey-mushrooms/
If they glow in the dark, they're Jack-o-Lantern mushrooms, which are poisonous.
No, they aren't mulched, the only thing underneath is grass and a few dead leaves. Funny thing is last year was the first year we ever had azalea caterpillars hit our azaleas. They almost ate all the leaves before we noticed them.
My experience has been that if you suddenly have a pest issue with a perennial that hasn't had problems in the past, the plant might have underlying health problems. Apparently sick plants send out chemical signals that attract bugs (both harmful ones and the beneficial ones that eat the baddies). A lot of Fungi don't fruit the first year they've infected a host.
It almost seems like it would have to be related to the pest last year. My neighbor next door also has a ton of these mushrooms in her yard. She doesn't have azaleas, but I have another line of them on the border with her property. I appreciate all your input. The azaleas bloomed beautifully this year, as always. I have one that blooms 2 different colors. It's my favorite, along with the one i call "Smoke". It is all white and when fully bloomed, it looks like a smoke cloud.