Mushroom Habitats Class

October 28 or November 4, 2024 
from 1:00PM to 3:00PM at the MCBG Farmhouse

While we wait patiently for peak season... let's learn where our magnificent mushrooms like to live! Join Naturalist and Mycologist Mario Abreu for a visual presentation on mushrooms and their substrates followed by a brief walk to find some examples in the Gardens. This class will explore common mushroom habitats with focus on the associated trees. Mario will also cover how mushrooms benefit from trees, tree identification basics, which mushroom species are associated with certain trees, and more.

THE DETAILS

• Class size is limited, advanced reservations are required.
• The class will include indoor instruction followed by a brief field walk. Be prepared for the weather with appropriate layers.
• We recommend bringing along a refillable water bottle, a notebook, and a pen.
• If you are sick, please stay home. 

REGISTRATION
Class size is limited! Registration for this class can be made in advance online (click the appropriate link below) or at the Gardens' gift shop. Please note, all registration fees are non-refundable unless the class has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens.

Registration .......................... $35 per participant and includes Gardens admission for the day

Member Registration ............ $25 per current MCBG Member (verify membership to activate discounted rate)

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.