Mushroom mania: A fun-filled fungi showcase at the Yakima Arboretum

YAKIMA, Wash. (KOMO) — Dozens of different mushrooms from across the Yakima Valley were on display Sunday for the community to check out at the Yakima Arboretum.

Some were edible, others were deadly, and many were just cool to look at.

[We're] just getting people acquainted to this awesome hobby and this awesome outdoor experience that you can have while looking for something you can put on your plate later that night," said Garrett Brenden, a Yakima Valley Mushroom Society (YVMS) board member.

There were also some spices available from Skip's Shrooms to buy and take home.

The community was invited to join in on the free event and even bring in some mushrooms of their own to be identified and learn more about.

Organizers say they typically have around 100 different types on display depending on the weather.

Last year wasn't ideal, but this year they say has been a lot better.

"Having kind of mild to cool weather with rain really helps the mushroom season last longer," Brenden explained. "Last year we had that hot summer go immediately to a cold, frigid winter, and so we really had a couple days to go mushroom hunting. This year, we've had a few weeks that have worked out and it looks like we'll have a few more weeks before it gets a little too cold out there."