Celebrating Regional Fungi
Celebrate the richness of Illinois fungi An exhibit featuring many local varieties of wild fungi. This event will be located in the Chicago Botanic Garden's Regenstein Center on Sunday.
The Illinois Mycological Association's (IMA) Annual Fungal Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden will celebrate all things fungi by showcasing the richness of Illinois autumn mushrooms and other fungi, with an exhibit featuring a variety of local wild fungi.
This event will be at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Illinois 60022, at their Regenstein Center on Sunday, September 4, 2022 from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm. The Fungi Show is free, though there is a fee for parking as well as admission at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.
Mycology is the study of fungi, including mushrooms, molds and lichens. The IMA is a group of professional and amateur mycologists, and fungi enthusiasts committed to the promotion of scientific and educational activities related to fungi. Our interests in mycology include their uses and roles in natural ecosystems.
One of the IMA’s major goals is to educate the general public about the importance of fungi and enlighten others about these magnificent organisms. The IMA supports conservation efforts to preserve the integrity of natural areas in order to preserve and promote fungal diversity and communities.
Members of the IMA collect fungi for scientific purposes from spring to fall, and some specimens go to the Field Museum herbarium. In 2016, it was sampling of DNA from Chanterelle mushrooms from Cook County and the Midwest, investigated by a team of mycologists including IMA scientific advisor, Patrick Leacock, that resulted in the formal publication of a new species - our own Chicago fungus, Cantharellus chicagoensis. It and many other types of mushrooms and other fungi will be at the show.
Bring your friends and family to enjoy an early autumn day learning about the wonders of fungi while basking in the beauty of nature at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Join us for a fun, educational, and family-oriented introduction to fungi! Additional information can be found at the IMA website at
http://www.illinoismyco.org/Chicago Botanic Garden members do not need to preregister—they are invited to visit at any time. Nonmembers must preregister for a timed entry. We hope to provide a better visitor experience for everyone. Per CDC recommendation: Wear a mask indoors.
For further information, please contact the Illinois Mycological Association at 847.432.8209 or
illinoismyco@gmail.com.