Welcome back - after our brief hiatus in January, we're ready to begin again for  what's sure to be another exciting year of MAW sponsored lectures, forays and events.

This month, we're going to learn a little about a group of mushrooms many of us don't take the time to notice, the lichens, but that's all about to change thanks to this month's dynamic speaker.  Manuela Dal Forno is a lichenologist from the Smithsonian Institution, and if you have time, have a look at her website.  This is going to be a fun, entertaining and educational lecture.

Also, be aware that we're hoping to couple this meeting with a lichen foray at scenic Great Falls Maryland the following weekend, also led by our lecturer.  Weather permitting of course, it is February after all. 

Great Falls is, in my opinion, most scenic during the winter months after the leaves have fallen, and icicles line the fall zone rocks.  Be sure to bring your field lens too, most of these small wonders don't reveal their hidden worlds until they're under magnification, and while you're at it, you might as well bring your binoculars - bald eagles often nest near Great Falls.