Raymond Archambault and Kit H. Leung

 
In California, our visit centered around connecting with our generous friend Antoine Alary in San Jose. Northern California is renowned for its redwood forests, home to a diverse array of mushrooms that differ greatly from those found in our native Quebec. How could we resist the opportunity to explore and learn about these fascinating fungi?
 
The Mycological Society of San Francisco (MSSF) became the gateway to our mycological adventure. We must extend our heartfelt gratitude to Natalie Wren, the MSSF president, for inviting us to attend their March general meeting and the extraordinary French culinary dinner. This wonderful highlight of our visit only continued to grow, as we participated in both formal and informal forays, further deepening our appreciation for the MSSF and its members. Natalie's warm welcome included introductions to Maria Pham, the co-chair of the culinary team, whose Swedish desserts were unforgettable, and Mike McCurdy, who enriched our trip with incredible mycological experiences. For Kit, the highlight was Mike's delicious fish chowder and cornbread, as well as the impressive mushroom knowledge of his wife, Lauren, who effortlessly informed Kit of the Latin and common names of mushrooms found. The excitement of our journey reached new heights, fueled by Maria's enthusiasm and determination, which led to encounters with numerous specimens of the impressive Cantharellus californicus. Moreover, during Mike's meticulously organized forays, he guided us in discovering stunning Amanita species. With remarkable generosity and passion for mycology, Mike went the extra mile by drying the specimens and sending them to the Cercle des mycologues de Montréal Fungarium (CMMF) at the University of Montreal. We are truly amazed by his dedication. Mike will be credited as the finder of Amanita ocreata, A. velosa, and A. novinupta in the CMMF's mycological database (https://irbv.umontreal.ca/research/collections/cercle-des-mycologues-de-montreal-fungarium-cmmf/?lang=en), which is a part of the Canadensys (https://www.canadensys.net/occurrence/search?collectionKey=65f33b76-9146-4058-b769-75b7d9ffe2b4. The function of Canadensys is to facilitate the sharing and utilization of biodiversity data to support scientific research and conservation efforts in Canada and beyond. Mycologists can request specimens from Canadensys or the CMMF directly. Furthermore, Mike took his kindness to another highlight. Using his connections, he organized another foray for his Quebec visitors, an exceptional excursion to San Francisco Watershed Park in which Natalie the president and ten members of the MSSF also participated, and our friend Antoine was delighted by the finding of the delicious Hydnum repandum (hedgehog mushroom) under Maria's lead. Imagine how truly thankful we are.
 
Mike's contributions to the MSSF extend beyond organizing forays; he is a true citizen scientist and educator. Mike demonstrated the experimental and control group approach for Maria's thoughtful questions about distinguishing toxic and non-toxic mushrooms, deepening the learning experience for amateur mycologists like Kit and Maria. Her remarkable questions make us believe that Maria is becoming another passionate citizen scientist like her mentor Mike, carrying on the good work!!! Another magnificent highlight of our visit was Brian Perry's enlightening lecture on fungal bioluminescence at the MSSF general meeting, which bridged science and fascination. This reminded Kit of her first encounter with fungal bioluminescence. She saw Armillaria mellea mushrooms on a lawn in Maine years ago. She picked a cluster of them and put them in a black plastic bag in which they glowed with green light. This experience sparked her curiosity about the wonders of fungal bioluminescence - a rich arena for research and exploration.
 
Apart from a burst of mycological interest in May for morels, in Northeastern America, autumn is the prime season for mushroom hunting; the mycological club's members of la Fédération québécoise des Groupes de Mycologues (FQGM - http://www.fqgmyco.org/) organize forays primarily in late August to early October. You are welcome to join us on these exciting adventures.
 
Our experience with the MSSF members was truly memorable, underscoring the value of fun together with citizen science in mycology. Their warmth and inclusivity made our short stay unforgettable. Thank you for inspiring us to blend the joy of mushroom picking with beneficial scientific explorations.