Explore the wondrous world of fungi on Saturday, October 27 from 2 – 4 at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on Oxford Street in Cambridge. Join Harvard students for a closer look at the mushrooms, yeasts, and molds found in gardens, forests, labs—even in our own refrigerators. This is an opportunity to investigate museum collections and participate in hands-on activities led by Harvard students. Regular museum admission rates apply. Free parking is available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.
The Lexington Field and Garden Club will present Dr. Susan Goldhor on Wednesday, May 11 beginning at 9:30 am at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum, 33 Marrett Road in Lexington, on the topic of The Hidden Forest. Few of us know about the hidden organisms that nourish, protect, infect, and destroy the visible portions of our ecosystems. More than 90% of the world’s plants have fungal partners, without which the world would be a vastly different place. Fungi depend on plants for oxygen and carbohydrates. Like us, they have a complicated relationship with the plant kingdom, acting sometimes as good gardeners and sometimes as destroyers. Photo from www.mushroomthejournal.com.
In this Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar based upon Robert Kourik’s two books on the subject, Understanding Roots: Exploring Plants Underground uncovers one of the greatest mysteries below the soil surface―the secret lives and magical workings of the roots that move and grow invisibly beneath our feet.
Roots do more than just keep a plant from falling over: they gather water and nutrients, exude wondrous elixirs to create good soil, make friends with microbes and fungi, communicate with other roots, and adapt themselves to all manner of soils, winds, and climates, nourishing and sustaining our gardens, lawns, and woodlands. During the presentation, Kourik will share enchanting and revealing root drawings, from prairies, grasslands, and deserts, as well as drawings based on excavations of vegetable, fruit, nut, and ornamental tree roots. Through detailed illustrations, Kourik will describe how roots work their magic to improve soil nutrients and will discuss soil microbes and their mysterious relationship to roots. This presentation will also explore the question of whether deep roots really gather more unique nutrients than shallow roots. Kourik will explain the latest research about the mysteries of mycorrhizal (good fungal) association. Practical tips will provide guidance on the use of inputs such as fertilizer, compost, water, and mulch to help plants flourish.
Robert Kourik credits the School of Hard Knocks for much of his early life skills training (and numerous continuing-education credits). He learned various horticulture-related skills from the inside-out by working with clients throughout California and the rest of the country for over 25 years. During that time Kourik took on design projects of all sizes, shapes and textures—water gardens, paths and patios, elegant arbors, habitat gardens, innovative home playgrounds, outdoor barbecue areas, deer-resistant gardens and low-profile, attractive deer fences, to name just a few.
In the late 1970s, with only a high school diploma, Kourik wrote a landscape book which has become a classic in its field and helped to define the genera of gardening now known as edible landscaping. Kourik believes that it was a lack of formal college training in horticulture that allowed him to envision and interpret this new interdisciplinary and original approach to gardening and landscaping. Throughout his career, Kourik has focused primarily on organic, natural, sustainable, integrated systems, permaculture and appropriate horticulture methods. Kourik is the author of several books including: Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally; Roots Demystified; Drip Irrigation for Every Landscape and All Climates; and just published, Understanding Roots. Robert writes and interacts with landscapes in the San Francisco Bay area in California.
Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers – See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/understanding-roots-exploring-plants-underground/#sthash.YkPAX7nt.dpuf
Can you distinguish a bolete from a gilled mushroom? What is a mushroom anyway? While fall is considered fungi season in the Northeast, fungi are seasonally cyclical and different species and types can be found almost anytime except deep winter. Join the New England Wild Flower Society and Jef Taylor (yes, that’s Jef with one “f”)at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln for a walk around the sanctuary to discover as many fungi as we can. Learn about the crucial and sometimes astonishing roles these fascinating life forms have in the ecosystem and some methods for identifying mushrooms and other fungi in the field. $28 for members of NEWFS, $34 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/fungi-in-the-field. Image from www.mushroomhunter.net.
The Farlow Library and Herbarium of Cryptogamic Botany is steward of a world-class collection of books, archives, and specimens related to four different types of organisms—fungi, protista, plants, and monera—that play key roles in nature and society. Founded by William G. Farlow (below) in the nineteenth century, the collection celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2014. From expanding our understanding of plant diseases and helping us assess the impact of climate change and habitat destruction on geographic distributions of organisms, to offering insights into ancient ecosystems, the Farlow collection advances scientific research that is relevant to society and our understanding of life on Earth. On Thursday, November 13 at 6 pm, join mycologist Donald Pfister, Asa Gray Professor of Systematic Botany and Curator of the Farlow Library and Herbarium, Harvard University, in an exploration of the history and impact of this unique Harvard collection.
Lecture and Reception. Registration required: www.hmsc.harvard.edu
Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street
Presented in collaboration with the Friends of the Farlow
Free event parking available at the 52 Oxford Street Garage
Let Lawrence Millman escort you on a journey into the amazing natural history of over 150 Northeastern fungi species on Wednesday, March 5, beginning at 10 am at The College Club, 44 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Learn how to make spore prints, discover which species are edible and which are poisonous, and find out which mushroom the Vikings ate before their raids. His book Fascinating Fungi of New England will be available for purchase and signing.
This Garden Club of the Back Bay meeting is free for GCBB members, and a $5 contribution is suggested for nonmembers. An optional lunch at a separate cost will follow the meeting. Guess what we’re having for lunch? Members will receive written notice of the event, and nonmembers may email info@bostonflora.com for more information.
We all know what the forest looks like. What very few of know are the hidden organisms that nourish, protect, infect and destroy the visible portions of our ecosystems. More than 90% of the world’s plants have fungal partners, without which the world would be a vastly different place. Fungi form an entire kingdom, more closely related to animals than to plants. Like us, they depend on plants for oxygen and carbohydrates. And, like us, they have a complicated relationship with the plant kingdom, acting sometimes as good gardeners and sometimes as destroyers. One lecture is not enough to tell you everything about this relationship but we promise that you’ll never see the forest in quite the same way again. Come to Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, on Thursday, November 7, from 7 – 8:30, and hear Susan Goldhor’s lecture for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society entitled The Hidden Forest.
Susan Goldhor is a biologist who is the President of the Boston Mycological Club, the oldest such club in the nation. Her essays about fungi, which have focused on their roles in ecoystems, have been widely praised for their clarity and style, as well as for popularizing aspects of fungi that have generally been the province of specialists. Register at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e8clee75612ddf48&llr=kzaorjcab.
Have you ever wondered about safe ways to hunt for wild and exotic mushrooms, or wanted to spice up supermarket varieties like crimini or portabello? If so, join president of the Boston Mycological Club Susan Goldhor, expert forager Ben Maleson, and renowned chef Chris Douglass to explore fascinating fungi at this Boston University Food and Wine course to be held Monday, October 28 beginning at 6 pm at 808 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Goldhor has been collecting and eating wild mushrooms—without a single stomach ache—for more than 25 years, and writes a regular column for the magazine Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming. Chris Douglass is chef/owner of Dorchester’s beloved Tavolo and Ashmont Grill, and an active proponent and patron of local food producers. Please your palate with mushroom dishes paired with wine while expanding your mushroom knowledge. $80. Image below from www.cookingontheweekends.com. Register on line at http://www.bu.edu/foodandwine/registration-manager/catalog.php?action=section&course_section_id=808.Â
Can you distinguish a bolete from a gilled mushroom? What is a mushroom anyway? While fall is considered fungi season in the Northeast, fungi are seasonally cyclical and different species and types can be found almost any time except deep winter. Join New England Wild Flower Society and Massachusetts Audubon Society Drumlin Farm for a walk around the Drumlin Farm Nature Center sanctuary in Lincoln, Massachusetts to discover as many fungi as we can. Learn about the crucial and sometimes astonishing roles these fascinating life forms play in the ecosystem and some methods for identifying mushrooms and other fungi in the field. $25 for members of either sponsoring organization, $29 for nonmembers. Photo from www.deviantart.net. Register online at https://46858.blackbaudhosting.com/46858/fw13-fdt1079-Fungi-in-the-Fall.
Susan Goldhor, Biologist and President of the Boston Mycological Club, along with Joel Kershner, Arboretum Field Studies Guide and BMC member, will lead an Arnold Arboretum walk on Saturday, June 29, from 2:30 – 4 (rain date June 30), meeting at the Bussey Street Gate. Turn your attention to the fascinating world of fungi at the Arboretum. Discover and identify some of the fungi that interact in complex ways with other organisms under the soil, within leaves, on bark and rocks. In case of inclement weather contact 617-384-5209. Reserve on line at www.my.arboretum.harvard.edu.
