From Forest Floor to Field Guide: New York State Museum Curator Publishes Illustrated Guide to Common Adirondack Mushrooms

Now Available for Purchase at the New York State Museum Gift Shop

Photos of the Book's Cover Are Available for Download in our Press Kit

The New York State Museum today announced that an Illustrated Guide to Common Adirondack Mushrooms is now available for purchase at the New York State Museum gift shop. Authored by Dr. Patricia Kaishian, Curator of Mycology at the New York State Museum, with watercolor illustrations by Amanda Casanovas, the field guide was first published by SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY ESF) in July 2026. The collaborative project introduces readers to 50 of the most commonly encountered mushrooms and fungi of the Adirondack region through detailed illustrations and accessible scientific descriptions.

Created for both beginning naturalists and experienced mushroom enthusiasts, the guide showcases the remarkable diversity of fungi found throughout one of New York's most iconic landscapes. Each featured species is accompanied by an original watercolor illustration by Casanovas and a description written by Dr. Kaishian, making the book both an engaging introduction to Adirondack fungi and a practical resource for exploring the region's forests.

Dr. Kaishian said, "Fungi are among the most complex and overlooked organisms in nature. They are integral to healthy forests as they recycle nutrients, form partnerships with plants, and provide sustenance and habitat to innumerable other species. The Adirondacks are full of fungal diversity, and this guidebook is a scientific and educational resource that will help readers familiarize themselves with some common species. In addition, Amanda's illustrations will help readers appreciate the beauty of these organisms."

New York State Museum Director Jennifer Saunders said, "Some of the most extraordinary scientists in their fields work right here at the New York State Museum, dedicated to documenting, studying, and sharing the remarkable natural world of New York State. Dr. Kaishian's work exemplifies that mission. This beautiful guide brings together rigorous science and art in a way that invites people to explore the Adirondacks with new curiosity and to better understand the extraordinary biodiversity found across our state."

Illustrated Guide to Common Adirondack Mushrooms reflects the New York State Museum's commitment to advancing scientific knowledge while making research accessible to the public. By combining science and art, the guide invites readers to discover the beauty, diversity, and ecological importance of fungi and encourages a deeper appreciation of New York's natural heritage.

The project is part of a series of regional guidebooks produced by the SUNY ESF Scientific Illustration Fellowship. For this fellowship, artists and scientists utilize SUNY ESF's Cranberry Lake Biological Station (CLBS) and Newcomb campus as home bases and work collaboratively to illuminate the biodiversity of the Adirondack region. For this book, Dr. Kaishian teamed up with Casanovas, and the two worked together during the summer of 2025 at CLBS and Newcomb. They continued working together remotely throughout the remainder of the year to produce the guide. Casanovas, a scientific illustrator based in Spain, combined artistic precision with careful observation to create illustrations that complement Dr. Kaishian's scientific expertise. Casanovas sees this book as "an invitation to go investigate the woods with curious eyes, attentive to the beauty of mushrooms."

The New York State Museum's gift shop is open to the public Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.

About the New York State Museum

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State's rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on all state observed holidays, including the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter.