Nature is a mycologist’s lab. Mushroom hunts occur in the summer when it’s warm, but also in the winter when it’s snowing. Mushroom hunting is not for the non-adventurer. You can traipse through snow, cross rivers, and dare ice. Sometimes you have to climb up, and other times you have to duck under to find the mushrooms.

Amateur mycologist Garrett Taylor and Johanna Dominguez, Western New York Mycology Club organizer, love mycology, the scientific study of fungi. As a chef, Garrett wanted to learn what mushrooms were edible, realizing that an identification mistake could be deadly. Johanna discovered mushrooms out riding her horse. They were everywhere and she was intrigued.

"I thought I’d go on one hike and learn everything I needed to know and within the first three minutes, I realized that it was going to be a lifetime of learning," says Dominguez.

For years, these two have been soaking up knowledge through a variety of reputable sources. After going mushroom hunting with them during the day in Orchard Park, Qunicey Widger, a mushroom hunt tour guide, hikes at night in Ellicottville.

"It’s a common misconception in the winter once the sun goes down, you have to go inside, but there’s so much more beauty that can be enjoyed," explains Widger.

Nicknamed the "Fungus Goddess," Quincey leads identification tours. She says mushrooms are always on her mind.

"Anytime I come into nature, no matter the season or time of day, I’m always trying to find mushrooms," adds Widger.

She loves hiking at night is so peaceful. All you hear is the sound of your own feet.