Morris County Fungus Fest 2009

MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY - 2009 has been one of the wettest years on record, and mushrooms of all shapes and colors are springing up everywhere. What, exactly, is a mushroom? What are these “things” growing in my lawn? Are they poisonous? Are they edible? Are my pets safe if they eat them? What good are mushrooms, anyway?

Answers to these and other questions about mushrooms will be found at the 2009 Fungus Fest, presented by the New Jersey Mycological Association(NJMA) on Sunday, September 27th at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is located at 53 East Hanover Avenue in Morristown, New Jersey.

Fungus Fest is what one might call a giant "science fair of mushrooms" It includes extensive exhibits of mushrooms, mushroom art and photography, guided outdoor mushroom walks with NJMA experts, edible and poisonous mushroom information, how-to's on mushroom cultivation and mushroom cooking, talks and presentations for beginners, medicinal uses of mushrooms, and even demonstrations of crafts like papermaking and fabric dyeing using mushrooms. Attendees are invited to bring their own mushroom specimens for identification by our fungi experts.

In addition to the activities, mushroom books, field guides, and mushroom crafts will be available for purchase.

Fungus Fest is free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children under 16.

About the New Jersey Mycological Association (NJMA)
The New Jersey Mycological Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about mushrooms and fungi. Its large, active, and enthusiastic roster of more than 400 members includes several of the world's leading experts on mushrooms, as well as those who are simply interested in identifying and collecting mushrooms for the table or their own curiosity.

For additional information and directions visit, www.njmyco.org.