Did you know that most plants rely on fungi to survive? Join retired provincial forest ecologist and lively raconteur Andy MacKinnon Sunday evening, June 5 at 7 p.m. at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden to learn about this intriguing partnership.
MacKinnon claims, “Plants are fascinating. Fungi are fascinating. But for sheer entertainment value, it’s difficult to beat plants plus fungi.”
He is co-author of six best-selling books, including the most trusted and highly useable field guide to our regional native plants, Plants of the Pacific Northwest. His BC Forest Service work includes ecosystem classification and mapping, plus a program of forest ecology research focused on old growth structure and composition, the effects of climate change, and B.C.’s native plants and fungi. He has taught university courses for both UBC at Haida Gwaii and for Simon Fraser at Bamfield.
In this talk, he will explore the fruitful union of two of his favourite kingdoms: fungi and plants. “Fungi have been associated with plants since plants first colonized the land, and are requisite partners of almost all of our familiar Pacific Northwest plants.”
Cost is $20 general admission, $15 for Botanical Garden members. Tickets can be purchased from the Garden office, by calling 604-740-3969, or emailing [email protected]. Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden is at 5941 Mason Road, Sechelt, and is open for summer hours Friday to Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., by donation. For information, visit www.coastbotanicalgarden.org.
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