Mushroom ID Workshop 2024

Saturday and Sunday, December 7th - 8th
or Saturday and Sunday, December 21st - 22nd
with Naturalist and Mycologist, Mario Abreu

Mushroom ID for Beginners is an in-depth two-day workshop consisting of an interactive lecture (Sat) with demonstrations followed by an optional Field ID Walk (Sun) to find mushrooms associated with the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens' native plant communities. Naturalist and Mycologist, Mario Abreu will teach the basic taxonomic identifying features that distinguish mushrooms from each other, where each unique mushroom species can be found, when they can be found, and the myths associated with them. 

The guided walk is optional. Class participants can also explore our wild mushroom collection on their own time armed with a list of species commonly found at the Gardens. The Gardens is home to more than 160 species of wild mushrooms during fall and winter!

THE DETAILS

• Saturday's Lecture will take place in the MCBG Farmhouse/Education Center from 10:30PM to 3PM with a lunch break from 12:30PM to 1PM.
• Sunday's Field ID Walk will meet at the MCBG Farmhouse at one of three optional times 9AM, 11:30AM, or 2PM.
• The class will include indoor instruction on Saturday and a guided field walk on Sunday. Be prepared for the weather with appropriate layers.
• We recommend bringing along drinking water, a notebook, and a pen both days. Bring a sack lunch on Saturday.
• If you are sick, please stay home. 

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION

Class size is limited. Registration for this workshop may be completed online (click below) or at our gift shop. Class cost is $75 per participant ($65 for MCBG Members) and includes admission for both days, the lecture, and the Field ID Walk. Please note, all workshop fees are non-refundable unless the workshop has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens.

Workshop Registration ........................... $75 per participant

Member Workshop Registration ............ $65 per current MCBG Member *Verify your membership to receive discount

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Mario Abreu retired from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens as the Plant Propagation Supervisor, Natural Areas Coordinator, and Collections Curator after 20 years. Mario holds degrees in Natural History, and Liberal Arts and Science. He has interned for the California Department of Fish and Game Mesocarnivore Assessment, Denver Botanical Gardens Applied Plant Conservation Program, and the College of the Redwoods Plant/Lichen Herbarium.

Mario has led guided mushroom walks at the Gardens for more than 18 years and Mushroom Identification classes for the past 15 years. Additionally, he has provided mushroom walks for the California State Parks/Mendo Parks New Year’s Day Event, Visit Mendocino County Mushroom Festival Events, and private tours.

Mario is a passionate natural history volunteer docent for the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, California State Parks, MendoParks, Dorothy King Young Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, and the UC Berkeley Sudden Oak Death Blitz Citizen Science Program. He also finds time to manage natural history displays at the Ford House Museum in Mendocino that include wildflowers, mushrooms, and the local Ecological Terrace Staircase and its associated Pygmy Forest plant community. 

Please remember, mushrooms found at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens should stay at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens... do not pick or collect!