On one of my first days working at a golf course in Naples, Florida, I came across a detail I’ll never forget. It was August 2024, the middle of summer, with the strong sun and freshly cut grass, when suddenly, right in the middle of that endless green, I discovered a small cluster of mushrooms breaking through the perfection of the field. As a newcomer in the United States, at my very first job as an immigrant, that little discovery made me realize that even in the most controlled and perfect places, nature always finds a way to show up.
I walked closer, and as I observed them, I decided to capture the image. It felt like freezing a moment of silent resistance: those mushrooms thriving in a space designed for everything but them. That contrast reminded me of my own journey arriving in a new country, starting from scratch, and finding a way to grow where it seemed impossible.
Mushrooms are fascinating. They are neither plants nor animals, but belong to their own kingdom. Some can glow in the dark thanks to bioluminescence, others communicate underground through what scientists call the “Wood Wide Web,” a network that connects trees and plants, allowing them to share nutrients and information. In fact, certain species have been the foundation of life saving medical discoveries, like antibiotics. Seeing them there, so simple yet so complex, inspired me to pause, reflect, and appreciate the small details we often overlook.
Today, I share this photo as a testimony of that moment. It is not just the image of mushrooms on a golf course it is also a memory of my first steps in this country and a reminder that life always finds a way.
📸 This photos are my property, taken with a Samsung S23 in August 2024.
