Ohhhh lots of interesting info there my friend, thanks for that. The only mushrooms that I eat come from a supermarket tbh! I do like to look at them though, and have always liked the look of them, especially some of the madder looking ones!
Lots of good mushrooms grow in your area, an easy beginner one is chicken of the woods, bright orange grows out of the trees. I find lots of it in Wisconsin and some around here in Illinois during September and October. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laetiporus Pretty much impossible to misidentify, bright orange, no gills grows out of wood. When cooked it tastes just like chicken great for buffalo wings.