Gary Lincoff Way: 95th & Amsterdam

Did you know the godfather of mushrooms is memorialized at the corner of 95th & Amsterdam?

#5 on the NYC Honorary Streets, Gary Lincoff was an internationally renowned mycologist (mushroom expert) and botanist, with over eight books to his credit, including notably the ever popular Audubon Field Guide to North American Mushrooms which sold over half a million copies.

Nearly all current mycologists, both amateur and professional, credit their discoveries & general knowledge in part to his inspirational teaching.

He taught for over 40 years at the New York Botanical Gardens.

Although a worldwide inspiration, he mostly explored Central Park, identifying more than 700 species of fungi in the world-famous park.

Gary Lincoff Way Recap & Next Steps

From NYBG’s website:

“Gary’s instructions on keeping a journal are classic. They specify that you should use a small notebook—one that would fit in your pocket or in a backpack. He asks you to write just one page per day with a date on every page. He suggests:

“Whether you know its name or not, if you notice a shrub or small tree in bloom, especially ‘out of season,’ it’s an observation worth making. You can describe the flower or the general shape of the plant, or photograph it and note in your journal that you took its picture. Look for changes over time; the flowers will fade, fruit will develop, leaf buds might become more conspicuous. These are all observations of a botanical nature that are appropriate for journal entries.””

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