On Thursday, Nov. 19th, our Chapter will have a program on “Poisonous Mushrooms of Virginia” beginning at 12:00 pm at Belle Isle State Park Visitors Center in Lancaster.  The gathering will begin at noon for social interaction of members, the public and guests with the talk beginning at 12:30.

The speaker will be Kevin Howe, a NN VNPS Chapter member and one of the authors on a recently published guide entitled “The Claudius Project - Poisonous Mushrooms of Virginia”.  Kevin is a retired ecologist and teaches classes for several Virginia Master Naturalist Chapters as well as being a Master Naturalist himself.  After the talk, there will be a walk in the park to look for mushrooms, other fungi and lichens.

Over the past several years, there has been a rise in mushroom poisonings throughout Virginia, so about three years ago, the Univ. of Virginia’s Division of Medical Toxicology and Dept. of Emergency Medicine approached the Virginia Master Naturalists about the producing a publication on poisonous mushrooms. Kevin was asked to join a project team as a writer and researcher to assist in putting together the 127 page publication that is now available online free by searching Claudius Project - Poisonous Mushrooms of Virginia.

The program will review the publication and how to use it as well as discuss toxicity and poisons in Virginia’s mushrooms. Following the talk, Kevin will lead a walk at Belle Isle in a search for mushrooms – good or bad.  

Depending on time of year and weather, the over 800 acres of the Park contains several distinct habitats often with an amazing array of fungi as well as other flora and fauna. The walk will be leisurely with many stops to look for little “things”. The walk will last about two hours.

The Park charges a daily fee at the entrance, but the Chapter will cover that fee so please proceed directly to the Visitors Center so we can pay your fee and get you a pass for your car.  The entrance is likely to be unmanned so just continue through to the Visitors Center.

This program is free and open to all. For questions email nnvnps@gmail.com.