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Mushrooms

Andrejus Garkusa/flickr

Underneath the earth, spanning hundreds of miles below our feet, is a massive colony. Often referred to as the “internet of fungus”, this vast system of roots has the ability to connect with plants several miles away. Mycelium, the living body of a mushroom, is made up of a web of tiny filaments. It allows fungi, and other species, to communicate with each other. It helps plants receive water and nutrients and it can even help protect plants against certain infections. While all of this is happening below the ground, the mushroom we see above the earth is just as fascinating.

W. Brooks Paternotte took the helm of Irvine Nature Center as executive director in July 2013 and immediately began building on the strong 35-year foundation. Brooks is a Baltimore native who was a teacher, coach, advisor, dean and Head of the Middle School during his 13 years at Boys’ Latin School in Baltimore. He is also an instructor and ambassador of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and is a Leave No Trace Master, as well as an avid outdoorsman and a features writer for FlyLife Magazine.