As we move into the prime fungi season and are blessed with promising rain, I'd to remind folks to please following the guidelines below for additions to the project:

-- Make sure to only document fungi that are neither immature or too old, dry, wet, wrinkly or damaged. Prime specimens in good condition are of the greatest scientific value by far.

-- Make sure the mushroom is big in the photograph and in focus, so that all details can be seen well.

-- Avoid bright sunlight or partial shade; cast your shadow on the mushroom to take a picture so it’s evenly lit

-- Photograph the following:

1. Cap surface
2. Underside (gills or pores)
3. The full stem including the base (this might require carefully lifting the mushroom out with a knife)
4. A leaf or needles from the closest tree (if there is a tree nearby)

-- Smell the mushroom and take note of the odor in your iNat observation

-- Make a note of any discoloration or bruising that happens when you handle it

Sigrid and I are discussing holding an informal workshop in GW on Thursday or Friday in late afternoon this week. Last week's flush of fungi in response to all the rain was inspiring. Now is a good time to gather, discuss data collection techniques, point out the areas to pay attention to, and actually find and talk about some of the more common species that are so fine to identify but are not the focus of our project at this point.

Message me (pcpalmer3) or Sigrid (sigridjakob) if you would be interested in attending later this week. We will be monitoring weather and the state of fungi (very volatile at this time of year, with the heat) and provide details.

Project Members: The rains arrived! The fungi should be there for our walk! We will hold our workshop at 4PM on Saturday 7/29 to kick off the coming collection season which has started with such promise. Let's gather next to the Archway near the 5th Ave entrance.