Northwest Lichenologists

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  • 04 Dec 2024 7:00 PM | Anonymous member

    Join Adrienne Alms and the Northwest Mushroomers Association for a free presentation all about lichens on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm at the Squalicum Boathouse in Bellingham, WA

    Although this event is hosted by NMA, you do not need to be a member of that group to attend, and this night will focus entirely on lichens :)


    Presentation description:


    Lichens and Us: Some stories about lichens, ethnolichenology, and my adventures doing lichen surveys this summer

    Lichens are almost everywhere when you start to pay attention, and they are symbiotic organisms made up of both algae and fungi, and sometimes other things like cyanobacterias, bacterias, and yeasts. Lichens have been (and still are today in some cases) used commercially in dye, perfume, cosmetics, and scientific industries. They have been and still are used as important food sources and for medicinal and magical purposes in many different cultures all across the world. They also contain some of the most beautiful patterns, colors, and textures in nature, and unlike most mushrooms and plants, they are out all year long. Yet lichens are often overlooked or ignored by both mycologists and botanists. Join Adrienne as they share some delicious photos and stories about lichens, ethnolichenology, and their adventures doing lichen surveys in the Glacier Peak Wilderness this summer.


    Event Details:


    Where: The Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 N Harbor Loop Dr, Bellingham, WA 98225

    When: Wednesday, December 4th

    Time: 6pm - 7pm Potluck Social, 7pm - 8pm Presentation 


    The evening will kick off with a holiday social and potluck, so we encourage everyone to bring a dish or snack to share. This event is open to the public, so feel free to invite anyone who might be interested!


    About Adrienne:

    Adrienne Alms (they/them) is an amateur (for now) lichenologist and naturalist. They have been studying lichens for about four years now, first in the upper Midwest and now in the PNW. Adrienne worked with Dr. Daniel Stanton at the U of MN to prepare his lichen and bryophyte samples for accession into the Bell Museum Herbarium in 2022. Adrienne is now a member of the NW Lichenologists and did their first lichen air-quality monitoring surveys for the USDA Forest Service this past summer. They are also a member of the Licheneers of North Puget Sound and the NW Mushroomers Association, and they have led lichen walks in and around Bellingham for both groups. Adrienne attended a microlichens class with Bruce McCune this past October and has since dove into the endless world of crust lichens. Adrienne is also a rock climber and often finds interesting and unique lichens on rocks while climbing or hiking to a climbing spot. They hope to move into doing more professional lichen and botanical consulting work in the future.

  • 17 Nov 2024 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Walk through the Washington Park Arboretum and learn all about lichens and their growth!

    Sunday, November 8, 2024

    Looking for a Fall activity for those shorter days in Seattle? Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology. Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae. You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.


    Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Washington Park Arboretum on Sunday, November 17, to get a head start on learning lichens from one of Seattle’s botanic gardens. You can enjoy the late fall season by looking for lichens, rather than staying inside and missing out on the excitement of being outside.

    Fee: $45


    Registration: Classes & Workshops | University of Washington Botanic Gardens (uw.edu)


    Bring a hand lens or cell phone with a magnifier to view lichen details. Consider "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest." 2023. McCune & Geiser. 3rd Edition.


  • 08 Nov 2024 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    FALL LICHEN WALK at the BELLEVUE BOTANIC GARDENS 

    Friday November 8, 2024

    Looking for a fall activity for those shorter days in the Seattle & Bellevue area?

    Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology.  Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.


    Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees, fences, Rhododendrons and Azaleas? Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Bellevue Botanic Gardens on Friday, November 8 to get a head start on learning lichens from one of the Seattle areas botanic gardens.  

    Registration: Lichen Walk - Bellevue Botanical Garden

    Fee: $24.50 - $35


    Bring a hand lens, if you have one & a copy of "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest" 2023, McCune & Geiser. 3rd Edition.


  • 26 Oct 2024 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Cemetery Lichens - Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Seattle


    Saturday, October 26, 2024

    Ghosts and Goblins in a cemetery for Hallowe'en?
    Why not consider lichens as an alternative?  Lichens are friendly and
    interesting organisms that love to grow on headstones and old trees.
    Cemeteries can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic
    organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common
    lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart
    that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.

    Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees
    and Rhododendrons?  Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic
    value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air
    pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew and the Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Saturday, October 26 to get a head start on learning lichens from your local
    cemetery.  You can enjoy Hallowe'en looking for lichens rather than scary
    witches and pumpkin heads.


    Dr. Katherine Glew is offering a 2 hour lichen experience at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Queen Anne in Seattle, Saturday, October 26 from 10:00am to noon. This offering will occur - rain, shine, wind, snow.........

    To sign up for the course and read a description, go to the following link:

    Classes & Workshops | University of Washington Botanic Gardens (uw.edu)


    Bring a hand lens or cell phone with a magnifier to view lichen details. Consider "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest", 2023 McCune & Geiser. 3rd Edition.


    Cost: $45 per lichen enthusiast


  • 15 Oct 2024 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    FALL LICHEN WALK at the BELLEVUE BOTANIC GARDENS 

    Tuesday, October 15, 2024

    Looking for a fall activity for those shorter days in the Seattle & Bellevue area?

    Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology.  Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae.  You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.


    Always wondered about what lichens are and why they are found on your trees, fences, Rhododendrons and Azaleas? Lichens are harmless to your plants and add aesthetic value to trees and shrubs. We can actually use them as indicators of air pollution!  Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Bellevue Botanic Gardens on tuesday, October 15 to get a head start on learning lichens from one of the Seattle areas botanic gardens.  

    Registration: Lichen Walk - Bellevue Botanical Garden

    Fee: $24.50 - $35


    Bring a hand lens, if you have one & a copy of "Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest" 2023, McCune & Geiser. 3rd Edition.


  • 05 Oct 2024 8:30 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Save the date... Oct. 5-6, 2024 -- Microlichens on bark at Siskiyou Field Institute, taught by Bruce McCune


    Registration is now available at https://thesfi.org/product/10-5-6-microlichens-on-bark/


    Learn to identify common crustose lichens on bark, using a hand lens in the field, followed by microscopic examination in the classroom, while building your own digital photo library for these species and sharing with other class members. Learn which species are common on conifer bark versus hardwoods. Learn collecting methods, curation, sectioning, and interpretation of taxonomic characters for crustose lichens. Practice keying to genus and species. Short field trips will visit various kinds of woody plants in various habitats near SFI, with an emphasis on lichens rather than driving. Prerequisites are introductory lichenology, including common macrolichens, spot tests methods, and basic terminology (such as soredia, isidia, cortex, medulla, etc.)


  • 28 Sep 2024 9:00 AM | Anonymous member


    This two-day workshop will focus on skills for identifying common Pacific Northwest macrolichens (foliose and fruticose lichens). After taking this course you will be sure to observe lichens, big or small (well, mostly small), almost everywhere you go!


    We will focus on characteristics for field identification as well as characteristics seen through dissecting microscopes in the lab. Students will learn how to use chemical spot tests, an essential tool for distinguishing similar lichen species. Students will learn to recognize and distinguish between pollution-tolerant lichen communities that we often see in cities and the more pristine communities that occur in places with high air quality. 


    Saturday morning will begin with an introductory classroom session where we will cover basic lichen anatomy and terminology and discuss the roles lichens play in ecosystems, such as supporting wildlife. Saturday afternoon we will take a walk around natural areas on the Reed campus. We will collect some lichen material to bring back to the lab in the second part of Saturday afternoon in order to practice keying and identification.

    On Sunday, the class will take a field trip to a natural area with high lichen diversity bout an hour outside Portland. We will spend about two hours at the field site, including about two miles of walking (rain or shine). The class will then return to the Reed campus for the afternoon for one more classroom and lab session.


    The workshop is intended for natural resource and natural science professionals, undergraduate and graduate students in the natural sciences, and dedicated amateur naturalists. No previous experience with lichens is needed. Everyone is welcome, but please leave your dogs at home.


    Space is limited so please register early to ensure you get a spot. The specific location where we will meet on the Reed Campus will be sent to registrants a few days before the workshop. Attendees are encouraged to bring a copy of Bruce McCune's Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest book (third edition) and a handlens if possible.


    Workshop registration for the general public is $200-$300, payable via Eventbrite or Venmo to Jesse (contact Jesse for more info). Reed students and staff should contact Hannah (pratherh {at} reed.edu) to register. Please note that refunds are not available after registering, although you may transfer your ticket to someone else. In the unlikely event that we have to cancel the workshop, registration fees will be refunded, though eventbrite fees are not refundable.


    To find out about future lichen and plant workshops and field walks, please join Jesse's mailing list.


    Instructor bios:

    Jesse Miller has worked with lichens since 2007. He is currently working as the Washington State rare plant botanist, providing scientific guidance on the conservation and management of the state's rare plants, lichens and fungi. He previously taught ecology and statistics at Stanford. Earlier in his career he worked as a field botanist and lichenologist in Oregon and California. He completed his PhD in plant ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016. Jesse's research interests include the effects of global change factors such as altered wildfire regimes and climate change on old growth forest lichens. For more info, see his website: jesseedmiller.com


    Hannah Prather is an NSF postdoctoral research fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Her PhD and teaching career has focused on the intricate relationship among lichens, bryophytes, host trees, and the surrounding ecosystem, all set against the dynamic backdrop of climate change and urbanization. Her work has taken place around the globe, most notably in tall trees species, urban environments, and polar ecosystems. At Reed, she teaches courses on the Lichens of the Pacific Northwest and Forest Canopy Ecophysiology. She regularly leads local lichen hikes and classes and in her spare time enjoys mountain biking, traveling, skiing, and climbing trees.




  • 22 Jun 2024 8:45 AM | Anonymous member

    Pierce County Master Gardeners Annual Meeting


    Keynote Speaker

    Presentation on lichens, relating their presence to air quality, garden & soil health.

    Lichens are an essential part of the forest ecosystem in western Washington. They
    have been monitored by the forest service, for evaluating forest health and air
    quality, and are now being studied for their importance in range land areas, along
    with other biotic crusts on soil. These symbiotic organisms play a major role in
    nitrogen and carbon fixation as well as mineral cycling. The ecological study of
    lichens is becoming more essential in our understanding of how to manage
    terrestrial ecosystems.


    The association of a fungus with a green algae and/or cyanobacteria defines
    lichens. This unique relationship has such a long evolutionary history, that neither
    individual can survive without their symbiotic partner.These secondary
    compounds may be a deterrent to insect pests that can attack plants in your
    garden. Humming birds use lichens when building their nests in the Pacific
    Northwest, perhaps to prevent insect infestation.
    Common urban lichens will be presented and discussed to help us understand what
    their existence may indicate about plants and air quality.

  • 09 Mar 2024 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

    Walk through the Washington Park Arboretum and learn all about lichens and their growth!

    Saturday, March 9, 2024

    Looking for a Winter activity for those shorter days in Seattle? Why not consider lichens as an alternative? They grow on trees, shrubs and rocks in botanic gardens and can tell us about air quality and the make-up of plants and geology. Botanic gardens can take on new meaning as a *fun* place to observe a symbiotic organism made up of a fungus and algae. You will also learn about common lichens found in an urban environment and take home a user-friendly chart that lists lichens found in your neighborhood.


    Join Dr. Katherine Glew for two hours at the Washington Park Arboretum on Saturday, March 9, to get a head start on learning lichens from one of Seattle’s botanic gardens. You can enjoy the late winter/early spring season by looking for lichens, rather than staying inside and missing out on the excitement of being outside.


    Registration: Classes & Workshops | University of Washington Botanic Gardens (uw.edu) and https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/education/adults/classes-workshops/


    Bring a hand lens or cell phone with a magnifier to view lichen details. If you have a copy of McCune/Geiser Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest, bring it!


    Registration Fee: $45
  • 17 Feb 2024 1:00 PM | Anonymous member

    Winter is a great time to look at lichens because many have fallen  from trees and are easy to find on the snow. That gives us a great excuse to put on snowshoes and seek them out. We'll begin with an easy snowshoe romp in Leavenworth to collect specimens, then we'll return to Don's house for refreshments and to look at what we found. We will also have time to look at the lichens under the microscope to see reproductive features and other structures. Expect to find at least ten species and learn how to identify them.  Limit: 8.  To sign up and get full details contact Don Schaechtel at don.schaechtel@gmail.com.


    There is still time to sign up with 4 spaces available for the annual Lichen Snowshoe Romp on Saturday February 17, 2024.   Don Schaechtel is hosting this annual event in Leavenworth from 1 - 4 PM.  


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