One of the undoubted highlights of the year, it was originally scheduled for mid-September, but was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions for mushroom growth.
Now with the weather turning quite autumnal, there should be many interesting mycological exhibits guaranteed.
Last year, the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage was supplemented with four new values, including the collection and use of mushrooms. The large-scale mushroom exhibitions at the Latvian National Museum of Nature show that mushroom picking is a national tradition – some would venure so far as to say "obsession".
As with previous years, the organizers of the exhibition will go to the forest to collect the most interesting material possible. At the exhibition, mushrooms will be arranged in different groups: edible, inedible, poisonous and protected.
Visitors may also bring mushrooms found in their garden, park or forest to the exhibition for identification of simply to show off.
It is precisely in this way that valuable specimens of mushrooms have come into the hands of mycologists in the past. All those interested will have the opportunity to receive consultations on different species of mushrooms. The mycologists of the Nature Museum reminded that unknown and previously unseen mushrooms should definitely not be used in food.
The range of mushrooms will be complemented by a unique historical material - watercolors of mushrooms painted by the naturalist Ferdinands Erdmans Štolls (Ferdinand Erdmann Stoll in German) about 100 years ago, which are kept in the collection of the University of Latvia. Š
Schtoll was one of the most prominent naturalists and nature conservation activists of the beginning of the 20th century and made a great contribution to the study of Latvian mushrooms.
Details of opening times and ticket prices: https://www.lndm.gov.lv/lv/aktualitates/liela-senu-izstade-2024
