Mushrooms ’n Monarchs Visit Campus

A close-up of the mushrooms

Photo: Marian Durkin

Monarch butterflies flitting around the butterfly bushes

Photo: Marian Durkin

A close-up of the mushrooms

Photo: Marian Durkin

There was recently a bumper crop of bright orange mushrooms that popped up next to a black gum tree on the west side of Bldg. 37, close to the Old Georgetown Rd./South Dr. exit. “They appear to be jack-o’-lantern mushrooms,” said NCI’s Marian Durkin. “I took one into a darkroom and can confirm that they are bioluminescent. Also, I have seen a number of monarch butterflies flitting around the butterfly bushes next to the Bldg. 49 entrance and on the west side of Bldg. 35, close to the sidewalk.” Such early fall visitors are welcome, despite their lack of PIV cards.