This month, we are welcoming yet another talented island mycologist to speak for us. Please join us Tuesday, May 13th at Floral Hall for a special presentation on edible fungi. Past President and VP of the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society (SVIMS), mycology enthusiast Melanie Hess loves to teach the introduction of how to identify mushrooms. In this exciting talk about foraging, we will explore how to identify fungi for the table! We will be going over the basics of mushroom ID, common lookalikes, and preparation guidelines. Melanie will be focusing on the most popular mushrooms, from Spring to Fall.  Floral Hall is at 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6M 1A2 Doors at 7, Talk at 7:30 As always, we would love to see your specimens at our monthly mushroom table for identification and admiration. Be sure to check out what unique Spring finds are at the May display. Love the talk? Your VMS membership allows you to access an archive of several past talks on our website for your marathoning pleasure. As always, masks are encouraged in indoor spaces and for all in-person events! VMS is still hybrid and we would love to see you virtually if you can't make it in person! You can join us live through Zoom and there will be a […]

Greetings VMS! And a big welcome to our new members from the Spring festival.. Apologies for the late announcement this month, I promise this one is worth the wait!  Fungal collections at the UBC Herbarium: Overview and recent developments Presentation by Dr. Karen Golinski 7pm Tuesday, June 10th @ Floral Hall (5251 Oak St.)   Karen Golinski is a bryologist and Collections Curator of the Bryophyte, Lichen and Fungi collections at the University of British Columbia Herbarium. She earned her PhD from the University of Victoria. Prior to beginning her current position at UBC in 2020, she worked on the US Herbarium bryophyte collection in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Karen has a strong interest in bryophyte biodiversity and conservation, and served on the Mosses and Lichens subcommittee of COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) for many years. Currently she is a member of the IUCN SSC Bryophytes Specialist group. The UBC Herbarium in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum holds more than 91 thousand accessioned dried fungus and lichen specimens, serving as a key resource for fungal and lichenological research, university education and public outreach. The two collections, which emphasize B.C. specimens, are housed in […]