Mushroom gatherers will flock to the area for a North American Mycological Association foray in McCall

Event begins Thursday.

BY TIM WOODWARD - twoodward@idahostatesman.com

Published: 09/01/08


Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
print storyemail story to a friend
Comments (0) |

McCall is about to become the temporary center of the mycological universe.

Mycology is the study of fungi, in this case mushrooms. Mycologists will gather in McCall for the North American Mycological Association's Orson K. Miller Jr. Memorial Foray Thursday through Sunday.

It will be the first NAMA foray in McCall in more than 30 years.

Miller, an internationally renowned mycologist, taught at Virginia Tech but spent summers in McCall and retired there. He died in 2006.

"The national club asked us to do the foray here to honor Orson and because they wanted to come to McCall for the diversity of mushrooms," Foray Chairwoman Linda Fleetwood said.

More than 2,500 varieties of mushrooms have been identified in the McCall area.

Up to 200 mycologists and other mushroom enthusiasts are expected to attend the event, which will include mushroom gathering and identification, a Mushrooms of Idaho presentation by Evergreen State College mycologist Michael Beug, a wine and cheese tasting and a fundraising auction. Proceeds will help pay travel costs for graduate mycology students.

Participants must belong to NAMA or the Southern Idaho Mycological Association.

"You can join SIMA for $20," Fleetwood said. "We will have stuff for beginners. Just because the big North American association will be here doesn't mean beginners aren't welcome."

A variety of costs and options are offered for meals and lodging. For more information, click on www.simykos.org or call Fleetwood at 208 634-5702.

Tim Woodward: 377-6409

OPTIONS: Most Read Stories  |  Story Comments  |  Email story  |  Print story

Story Comments
We welcome comments but ask that you remain on topic. Some comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. Comments that are profane, personal attacks or otherwise inappropriate or are off topic are subject to removal. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Do not flag comments merely because you disagree with the comment.

more about comments here.
Local Deals
Find a Job
Keywords:
 Location: