Mushroom Discovery Walk and Native Garden Tour
Public Welcome Registration Required Free Event Public Garden Tour Nature Walk/Hike Public Restroom Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Join us at the Blue Ridge Discovery Center to enjoy and learn about native habitats in our region. We will follow trails in the morning to discover mushrooms and enjoy a guided tour of the native habitat areas established at the BRDC in the afternoon. You will need to bring lunch and beverage.
Lee Borg will lead the walk to identify and learn about various mushroom species growing there. Lee is a Virginia Master Naturalist with a passion for edible wild mushrooms. She retired from software engineering after 36 years, moved to the mountains, and began to notice mushrooms. Dazzled by the stunning variety of shapes and colors, curiosity drove her to have them identified. When told she had found a choice edible, something shifted in with her mind about the possibility of obtaining good food from the forest vs. the grocery store. Lee has now safely consumed over 100 species of wild mushrooms, learned about the trees and plants that support them, and most importantly, how interconnected our natural world is.
Olivia Jackson, the BRDC program coordinator, will lead a guided tour of a rain garden, wetlands, pond, and nature trails that meander through the campus. Olivia grew up just outside Shenandoah National Park and spent most of her childhood exploring the great outdoors. She has a degree in biology and took field classes like herpetology, ornithology, and field botany that sparked her interest in naturalist education. She developed her skills in naturalist education at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center just outside Albany, New York. During her time there, her passion for teaching people about the wonders of the outdoors flourished. She believes that every day is an opportunity to learn something new!
We will also learn how volunteers can help maintain and expand the gardens while learning about them as part of the BRDC Weekly Garden Club.
Participation in this event will be limited to maintain a high-quality experience for all attendees. WOAH and WCMG members can register starting June 24th, and registration will be available to the public starting July 10th. You will receive confirmation and more detailed directions by email.
Register by email to: [email protected]